Storm Stories

Send us a text After a massive earthquake off Russia triggered a Pacific tsunami, people began asking: could a tsunami reach coastal North Carolina? In this episode of Shoresides , we talk with **Stephen Pfaff**, meteorologist-in-charge at the National Weather Service’s Wilmington office, about how tsunamis form, the real risk (or lack thereof) for our shores, and how preparedness — from early war...

This is the story of a beach storm no one saw coming—and the lessons we can’t afford to forget. In this episode of Storm Stories, Mayor Lynn Barbie of Carolina Beach helps us look back at the intense rainfall that hit Carolina Beach last year—a slow-motion disaster with no howling winds, no storm surge, just rising water and a community left to pick up the pieces. As the media focused on the devas...

In 2018, Hurricane Florence devastated coastal North Carolina, leaving Yvonne Pittaway’s home in Carteret County torn apart, and her missing it. After Hurricane Helene tore through North Carolina, residents faced more than just physical devastation, too—they grappled with the emotional aftermath. In this episode of Storm Stories, Brandon Romstadt of WNC Health Network shares how public healt...

After Hurricane Helene, the damage wasn’t just physical—it left an invisible scar on the mental health of survivors. Environmental epidemiologist Dr. Jen Runkle joins Storm Stories to explore how disasters like Helene disrupt communities long after the floodwaters recede. She shares insights from her research on the psychological aftermath of hurricanes, particularly among young people and pregnan...

In this episode of Storm Stories, we explore the complexities of disaster giving, from the impact of misinformation to the critical need for long-term recovery efforts. Through expert insights Stephanie Watkins-Cruz  and of the North Carolina Housing Coalition and Tanya Gulliver-Garcia the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and we uncover the systemic challenges of funding rural and invisible disast...

In this Storm Stories episode, pulled from the Shoresides’ archive, we revisit the resilience of Pender County, North Carolina, in the wake of Hurricane Florence—a story that resonates now, as flooding again affects communities across North Carolina. Disaster counselor Jennifer Witkowski shares how long-term recovery goes beyond immediate cleanup, demanding sustained volunteer efforts and de...

Welcome to Storm Stories , a Shoresides original podcast, where we explore the human experiences and science behind hurricanes in North Carolina. Host Rend Smith speaks with Imhotep Dlanod, a musician displaced by Hurricane Katrina who is now facing the impacts of storms and flooding in Asheville. Alongside Imhotep's reflections on resilience and culture, meteorologist Joe Zambon from Fathom...

After a hurricane upends everything, the void left behind—solastalgia—can be as destabilizing as the storm itself. In this episode of Storm Stories, we hear from Angie Bailey of North Carolina’s Broadband Infrastructure Office on efforts to bridge the digital divide, ensuring communities aren’t cut off when they need connectivity the most. And in Utica, Mississippi, Carlton Turner reflects on brin...

According to research conducted by Shoresides, the National Weather Service Office  in Wilmington, North Carolina, which played a pivotal role in predicting and tracking Hurricane Florence in 2018, may now be understaffed. In this episode of Storm Stories , we hear from the meteorologist at Joe Zambon about the 2025 hurricane season and the challenges of forecasting the next  N.C. storm under new...

Inclement weather exposes our transportation options—and where we most need to go. In the case of Wilmington, NC, as winter storm Gianna hit, data showed residents used the Lyft ride-share app to meet some of their most critical emergency needs. In this episode, Shoresides talks with Sarah Conlisk of Lyft about the data and how snow in the Carolinas brought first-time riders, trips to grocery stor...