 The strong storm surge produced significant flooding in Harlowe and Oriental . Several other locations also reported flooding of streets and low @-@ lying areas . The rise of water flooded many homes in Craven County and the eastern portions of Carteret and Pamlico counties . Emergency personnel performed many rescues to people who had not evacuated and had become trapped by storm surge flooding . Several eyewitnesses reported high velocity , waist deep water moving homes , trailers , and other objects many yards inland . As the water retreated , these objects were then dragged back towards the sound . A 5 to 8 foot ( 1 @.@ 5 to 2 @.@ 4 m ) storm surge struck the western portion of the Albemarle Sound , with significant surge flooding occurring to the west of Edenton . There , the surge destroyed four homes , two of which were moved up to 20 feet ( 6 @.@ 1 m ) off their concrete block foundations . Nearly 60 percent of all homes and business in Chowan County suffered some structural damage due to wind , many of which were the result of large falling trees . One female died when a tree fell on her vehicle in Chowan County . 
