Five people – including three children – were rescued from the dark and stormy waters of North Carolina late Friday night just hours before Tropical Storm Ophelia made landfall there.
Two adults and three children — ages 4, 7 and 10 — were on a 38-foot sailboat at Cape Lookout Bight when the owner decided he “didn’t feel comfortable” in the narrow channel because of the dangerous conditions and called Sector US Coast Guard North Carolina from cellphone to get help, according to a press release.
Ten-foot waves and 40 mph winds rocked the docked boat at the time.
The powerful tropical storm made landfall on Emerald Isle — just a few miles from Lookout Bight — at 6:15 a.m. the next morning, bringing with it 70 mph winds and choppy waves.
A 45-foot response boat navigated the narrow channel using parachute flares and reached the moored catamaran just before 9 p.m.
Video shared by the US Coast Guard shows part of a rescue operation to remove five passengers on a sailboat from dangerous waters off North Carolina as conditions worsen as Tropical Storm Ophelia approaches. United States Coast Guard
All five passengers were taken inside and no injuries were reported.
A helicopter, seen in a video posted by the Coast Guard, assisted in the daring late-night rescue and provided light from above to help navigate back to station.
The group safely arrived back at the station at 10:22 pm
A tropical storm warning has been issued from North Carolina to Delaware due to Tropical Storm Ophelia. Fox weather
The sailboat remains at anchor and will be assessed by local salvage crews once Tropical Storm Ophelia passes, the Coast Guard said in the statement.
North Carolina officials declared a state of emergency on Friday due to the storm.
It is forecast to bring storm surges of more than 6 feet in some areas, as well as life-threatening flooding, the National Hurricane Center warned.
Tropical Storm Ophelia hit North Carolina and headed north, bringing strong winds, coastal flooding and life-threatening rip currents. Fox weather
The effects of Ophelia were felt across the Outer Banks on Friday.
The region experienced widespread flooding and power outages on Saturday as rain and strong winds are expected to continue through the weekend.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
