PHOTOS: Hurricane Matthew in Wilmington Area

The West End of Oak Island was completely cut off from local trafficdue to flooding from Hurricane Matthew on Saturday afternoon. Chip Ellis/For the Star News

Sunset Beach Bridge DONNELL GILES STARNEWS STAFF

Rain and high water flooded parts of Oak Island. Chip Ellis/For The StarNews

The tide, wind and rain took out fencing and dunes on Oak Island. Chip Ellis/For The StarNews

Wrightsville Beach Saturday Morning COURTESY OF KELLY COTTER

Downtown Saturday mid Morning. COURTESY OF KELLY COTTER

Residents come out after the worst of Matthew on Oak Island. Chip Ellis/For The StarNews

Water from the Intracoastal Waterway overflows onto Old Ferry Road at Holden Beach. COURTESY OF GRAY WELLS

Crews with The City of Wilmington remove a fallen tree near the corner of Third and Market in downtown Wilmington. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

People watch as large surf from Hurricane Matthew pounds Johnnie Mercer's Fishing Pier in Wrightsville Beach, N.C., Saturday, October 8, 2016. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

People walk down a flooded Water St. near the intersection of Market St. in downtown Wilmington, N.C., Saturday, October 8, 2016. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

A car drives through the water on Water St. in downtown Wilmington, N.C., Saturday, October 8, 2016. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

As the tide and water receded Saturday on the west end of Oak Island, it appears cleanup from Hurricane Matthew won't be easy. Chip Ellis/For The StarNews

The tide, wind and rain took out fencing and dunes on Oak Island. Chip Ellis/For The StarNews

Riverfront Park in downtown Wilmington was flooded from Hurricane Matthew in downtown Wilmington, N.C., Saturday, October 8, 2016. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

Yacht Basin Drive along Southport Harbor's restaurant row was impassable by midday Saturday due to high winds and storm surge. Chip Ellis/For the Star News

A car drives turns onto Dock St. from Water St. in downtown Wilmington, N.C., Saturday, October 8, 2016. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

A car drives down Princess Place Dr. past a flooded Burnt Mill Creek in Wilmington, N.C., Saturday, October 8, 2016. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

People walk down a flooded Water St. near the intersection of Market St. in downtown Wilmington, N.C., Saturday, October 8, 2016. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

Oak Island Pier on Saturday before a portion of it was taken off by the impact of Hurricane Matthew. Chip Ellis/For the Star News

Large surf from Hurricane Matthew pounds Johnnie Mercer's Fishing Pier in Wrightsville Beach, N.C., Saturday, October 8, 2016. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

People walk down a flooded Water St. near the intersection of Market St. in downtown Wilmington, N.C., Saturday, October 8, 2016. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

A car drives down a flooded Water St. in downtown Wilmington, N.C., Saturday, October 8, 2016. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

David McDaniels, from left, stands with wife Heather McDaniels and son Devon McDaniels looking at the flooded streets at the corner of Dock and Water Streets in downtown Wilmington, N.C., Saturday, October 8, 2016. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

A car drives down a flooded Water St. in downtown Wilmington, N.C., Saturday, October 8, 2016. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

An officer with the Wilmington Police Department blocks the intersection of Red Cross and Water Streets in downtown Wilmington, N.C., Saturday, October 8, 2016. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

Julia Ledee stands in a doorway while looking over the flooded conditions on Water St. in downtown Wilmington, N.C., Saturday, October 8, 2016. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

People walk down a flooded Water St. near the intersection of Dock St. in downtown Wilmington, N.C., Saturday, October 8, 2016. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

Many of the docks in Carolina Beach Boat Basin were already flooded by early afternoon. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

A truck goes through the flooding on Canal Drive in Carolina Beach on Saturday afternoon from Hurricane Matthew. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

Much of Oak Island's West End was heavily flooded by mid afternoon. The Oak Island Pier was also damaged by the powerful wind and surf. Chip Ellis/For the Star News

Two people boogie board near the Surf City Ocean Pier as Hurricane Matthew brought high waves and storm surge to Southeastern North Carolina on Saturday afternoon. HANNAH DELACOURT/STARTNEWS

Two surfer memorial crosses in Surf City are pounded by large waves as Hurricane Matthew makes it's way into Southeastern, North Carolina. Town officials say beach erosion is already being seen throughout area beaches. HANNAH DELACOURT/STARNEWS

Many of the docks in Carolina Beach Boat Basin were already flooded by early afternoon. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

Canal Drive flooded in Carolina Beach. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

Two surfer memorial crosses in Surf City are pounded by large waves as Hurricane Matthew makes it's way into Southeastern, North Carolina. Town officials say beach erosion is already being seen throughout area beaches. HANNAH DELACOURT/STARNEWS

A car goes through water from the Cape Fear River on River Road in Wilmington. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

Flooding at Bald Eagle Lane in Porters Neck. Photo: @morgan055371 Twitter

Kevin Plemmons (from left), Victoria Hull and Farley walk along Fourth Street in downtown Wilmington. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

Canal Drive was flooded in Carolina Beach by early afternoon. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

High winds knocked out the power around 2 p.m. for the stoplights at Leland's new "diverging diamond" intersection at NC Highway 133 and US Highways 74 & 76. Ken Blevins/StarNews

Water along parts of New Center Drive, which was eventually closed, on Saturday morning. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

Crews with The City of Wilmington remove a fallen tree near the corner of Third and Market in downtown Wilmington. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

Flooding near Pelican Lane and Canal Drive in Carolina Beach. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

A truck goes through the flooding on Canal Drive in Carolina Beach. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

The boat docks of the Forest Sound community in Hampstead have risen above the normal top of the basin due to high water. Courtesy Greg Gibson/Facebook

A truck goes through the flooding on Canal Drive in Carolina Beach. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

Many of the docks in Carolina Beach Boat Basin were already flooded by early afternoon. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

Wind blows around the stoplights just before the Carolina Beach Bridge on Saturday afternoon. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

Water at the beach coming over the dunes at Oak Island. The surge is expected to rise with high tide set for 1:19 Saturday afternoon. Dean Blaine/For The StarNews

A large tree limb fell in front of and on top of a house on the 800 block of Orange Street. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

The storm had clearly confused this gator, which had made its way to Physicians Drive, just off Canterwood Drive and 17th Street in Wilmington on Saturday morning. Courtesy of Gretchen Vera

Billy Mellon, owner of Manna restaurant, holds onto plywood while boarding up the restaurant in the rain in downtown Wilmington on Saturday morning. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

Clark Hipp placed sandbags at the doors of Two Sisters Bookery at the back of The Cotton Exchange in downtown Wilmington. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

Tyler Perlow (left) takes a picture of his father Mike Perlow on Front Street in downtown Wilmington. The two are from New York and were in town for a wedding. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

The giraffe at the Oak Island Jungle Golf is tied down and ready for Hurricane Matthew. Dean Blaine/For The StarNews

Water and sea foam have risen all the way to the steps of the beach access at the Surf City Welcome Center on Topsail Island. Jessica Coston/StarNews

View from the pier in Surf City. Photo: Allan Libby

It's much easier to dunk on this basketball goal in Sunset Park. Despite some concrete blocks to hold it in place, the wind of Hurricane Matthew knocked it down Saturday morning. Paul Stephen/StarNews

A tree lies across the back of a truck parked at a residence on Redwood Road in Boiling Spring Lakes. Makenzie Holland/StarNews

Strong gusts from Hurricane Matthew bent the trees at Front. and Red Cross in downtown Wilmington. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

Looking north from the 1600 block of Market Street showed very few cars out Saturday morning in Wilmington. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

While most other businesses on Oak Island are closed, pharmacist Jeff Ezzelle -- a 30-year town resident -- felt it was important to keep open Thomas Drugs. "There's always people who forget to get their insulin," he said. All the other drug stores in town are closed. Dean Blaine/For The StarNews

Power lines were down at the corner of Orange and 10th streets in downtown Wilmington. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

A large tree limb fell across the sidewalk and road along Metts Avenue in Wilmington. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

High winds in Southport took down some power lines early Saturday on Howe St. as Hurricane Matthew approached from the South. Chip Ellis/For the Star News

Front Street Brewery was boarded up in preparation of Hurricane Matthew. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

Power lines were down on Wayne Drive in Wilmington. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

Looking down Front Street showed very few cars out Saturday morning. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

This tree uprooted from a house in the 300 block of Forest Hills Drive, less than a minute after two residents were standing across the street. Dan Spears/StarNews

Burnt Mill Creek was already almost up to Princess Place Drive early Saturday morning in Wilmington. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

Employees at the Harris Teeter store at 2800 South College Road bring in pumpkins Saturday morning. TIM BUCKLAND/STARNEWS

Kevin Corbett Jr. (left) talks with his father Kevin Corbett in front of Bourbon Street restaurant in downtown Wilmington, N.C., Saturday, October 8, 2016. The two were at the restaurant to make sure the kitchen did not have any damage. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

Before 10 a.m., water had started standing on Independence Boulevard and River Front Place, with another foot of rain expected before tomorrow afternoon. Dan Spears/StarNews

CFPUA employees check on the pump station inside the Rivers Edge subdivision on Saturday morning as Hurricane Matthew's outer bands begin arriving in Wilmington. Dan Spears/StarNews

Many small tree branches already had fallen by 10 a.m., including these pines at the corner of 17th Street and Savannah Court. Dan Spears/StarNews

Joanne Maurice, owner of Joanne's Loving Touch Pet Grooming of Oak Island, volunteered to help out over the hurricane weekend at Dog Days of Southport where they took in more than 25 rescue animals. Maurice actually brought some of her own dogs to the new all-inclusive pet facility to ride out the storm together. Chip Ellis/For the Star News

This pine tree on Newkirk Avenue in Hanover Heights was standing straight this morning. It's not bending at top, rather being pushed over at bottom, as the ground is wet and soft from recent rain. Scott Nunn/StarNews

Water begun to gather in drainage ditches along U.S. 17 early Saturday, such as this one just north of Bolivia. Adam Wagner/StarNews

The New Hanover County emergency operations center on Saturday morning was already a busy place. Tim Buckland/StarNews

Rain and winds made for an ominous morning in Leland along NC Highway 133. Ken Blevins/StarNews

Branches have already fallen, with heavier wind on the way, in Sunset Park. Paul Stephen/StarNews

Branches have already fallen, with heavier wind on the way, in Sunset Park. Paul Stephen/StarNews

Branches have already fallen, with heavier wind on the way, in Sunset Park. Paul Stephen/StarNews

Branches have already fallen, with heavier wind on the way, in Sunset Park. Paul Stephen/StarNews

Branches have already fallen, with heavier wind on the way, in Sunset Park. Paul Stephen/StarNews

Winds from Hurricane Matthew have already twisted road signs at NC Highway 211 and Long Beach Road in Brunswick County. Dean Blaine/For The StarNews

Pine needles have been falling all over town, if you decide to venture out in Hurricane Matthew today. Paul Stephen/StarNews

Tree branches have snapped but not hit the ground around Sunset Park. Paul Stephen/StarNews

Bigger branches on trees have been broken off already, with heavier winds expected as Saturday goes on. Paul Stephen/Star News

A tree has fallen on an SUV in the Wallace Circle neighborhood behind UNCW's baseball field. Photo: @TrinaAldrich/Twitter

Wind is picking up, but not too many signs of damage early on in Carolina Beach. Dave Cuddihy/StarNews

A tree lies across the back of a truck parked at a residence on Redwood Road in Boiling Spring Lakes. Photo: Makenzie Holland StarNews Staff

Harris teeter at Hanover center is open. Alex Ragno/StarNews

Massive waves crash against the Carolina Beach fishing pier Saturday as Hurricane Matthew approaches. F.T. Norton/StarNews

Hardee's at Hanover Center is open. Alex Ragno/Star News

CVS at college and oleander is open. Alex Ragno/StarNews

This tree uprooted from a house in the 300 block of Forest Hills Drive, less than a minute after two residents were standing across the street. Dan Spears/StarNews

An electronic reader board at the town line for Kure Beach declares a mandatory evacuation for island visitors. F.T. Norton/StarNews

Palm trees bend in the high winds near the Kure Beach Pier. F.T. Norton/StarNews

Rain on Pleasure Island was heavy and light at times, but visibility was low throughout the morning. F.T. Norton/StarNews

Lots of debris in the road at Eastwood and Military Cutoff. Photo: Alex Ragno/StarNews

People photograph the monster waves as they crash against the Carolina Beach fishing pier. F.T. Norton/StarNews

"Our neighbors trampoline" photo: @AshleyPodolak64 Twitter

A storm drain near Forest Hills Drive and Columbia Drive is empty, but the road next to it is slowly covered by rain. Dan Spears/StarNews

Rain gives Greenfield Lake plenty more water during one of the bands of Hurricane Matthew on Saturday morning. Eric Detweiler/StarNews

Port City Motors off Wooster Drive and 18th Street is prepped for floodwater. Dan Spears/StarNews

Water rises around a truck parked at Fish Headz Fresh Market. Makenzie Holland/StarNews

FantaSea Watercraft Rentals, situated below the Holden Beach bridge, is surrounded by water. Makenzie Holland/StarNews

NCDOT workers just finished clearing the old shoe tree off NC Highway 210 near the Avendale community in Rocky Point. A small yellow umbrella drawing remains on the tree, showing where years ago shoes used to hang. Ashley Morris/StarNews

The signs in Wrightsville Beach tried to tell Matthew to go away, but he didn't listen. Terry Reilly/For The StarNews

NCDOT workers just finished clearing the old shoe tree off NC Highway 210 near the Avendale community in Rocky Point. A small yellow umbrella drawing remains on the tree, showing where years ago shoes used to hang. Ashley Morris/StarNews

Hurricane flags raised over a beach access in Surf City. Jessica Coston/StarNews

The tree in front of the Oak Island ABC store at NE 64th and Oak Island Drive split in the wind and rain on Saturday afternoon. Dean Blaine/For The StarNews

Wind, rain and sand made a tough combination for photo seekers at Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier in Wrightsville Beach. Terry Reilly/For The StarNews

Hampstead resident Dustin Hewett said he has never seen the water this high before in his backyard on the sound in Belvedere. Typically, this is reed grass that only gets slight water in high tide. Photos submitted by Dustin Hewett.

The Winner Boats ticket stand is under siege from high tide and rain in Carolina Beach. Richard Valeo/For The StarNews

All was quiet along the Carolina Beach Boardwalk on Saturday afternoon before Pleasure Island was put on wind alert. Richard Valeo/For The StarNews

The Cape Fear River spills out onto River Road at the intersection with Cathay Road. Cherie Finnegan/StarNews

Sea foam made its way all the way to the beach access near the boardwalk in Carolina Beach. Richard Valeo/For The StarNews

Oak Island Fire Chief Chris Anselmo sits at his desk watching the Weather Channel and manning phone calls. Dean Blaine/For The StarNews

The area around Carl Winner Drive and Canal Drive in Carolina Beach was flooded quickly on Saturday. Richard Valeo/For The StarNews

Tourists check out the rough surf from an awning on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. Richard Valeo/For The StarNews

A handicap beach access at Ninth Street in Surf City lays mangled after the beach eroded under it. The access was completed just a few months ago. HANNAH DELACOURT/STARNEWS

About a dozen people watch from the Roland Avenue beach access as large swells break along the dunes in Surf City. HANNAH DELACOURT/STARNEWS

Flooding in Oak Island. DEAN BLAINE FOR THE STARNEWS

Flooding in Oak Island. DEAN BLAINE FOR THE STARNEWS

Flooding in Oak Island. DEAN BLAINE FOR THE STARNEWS

Flooding in Oak Island. DEAN BLAINE FOR THE STARNEWS

Local girls let the high wind hold them up as the surf crashes along the Southport harbor and pier area Saturday as the hurricane got closer. Chip Ellis/For the Star News

Heavy rains and storm surge from Hurricane Matthew wash through the dunes near Ocean Crest Pier on Oak Island. Chip Ellis/For the Star News

Heavy surf from Hurricane Matthew's storm surge batter the coastline in Southport on Saturday morning. Chip Ellis/For the Star News

A trio of hearty beach lovers hit the storm soaked streets for a jog in the middle of a heavy downpour and huge wind gusts along Ocean Drive Saturday afternoon. Chip Ellis/For the Star News

A handicap beach access at Ninth Street in Surf City lays mangled after the beach eroded under it. The access was completed just a few months ago. HANNAH DELACOURT/STARNEWS

A surprising number of adrenaline junkies braved the brutal weather conditions Saturday in Southport. Chip Ellis/For the Star News

Yacht Basin Drive along Southport Harbor's restaurant row was impassable by midday Saturday due to high winds and storm surge. Chip Ellis/For the Star News

Vehicles had to dodge high water in the streets along Southport's restaurant area along Yacht Basin Drive. Chip Ellis/For the Star News

Storm chasers flocked to the Southport pier Saturday to get a first hand feel of hurricane force winds and driving rain. Chip Ellis/For the Star News

Storm spectators gather at Southport Park by the harbor to witness the early storm surge which flooded much of the seaside town. Chip Ellis/For the Star News

Yacht Basin Drive along Southport Harbor's restaurant row was impassable by midday Saturday due to high winds and storm surge. Chip Ellis/For the Star News

Kevin Yates, owner of Dog Days Daycare Boarding and Grooming, has taken in 25 rescue dogs to shelter them from the effects of Hurricane Matthew. Yates and several volunteers worked rigorously Saturday October 8th, 2016 to accomodate as many local rescue animals as possible. Chip Ellis/For the Star News

The surf off Southport battered the coastline and flooded the lower streets Saturday morning as locals awaited the full brunt of the storm to arrive. Chip Ellis/For the Star News

The storm surge from the Hurricane Matthew floods across Ocean Drive near the Ocean Crest Pier. Chip Ellis/For the Star News

Most of the roadways around the Southport Harbor were flooded and closed Saturday afternoon as the storm surge from Hurricane Matthew grew stronger. Chip Ellis/For the Star News

Rough seas and tropical strength winds attract dozens of curiosity seekers along Southport's harbor and pier Saturday as Hurricane Matthew bears down on the Brunswick County coastline. Chip Ellis/For the Star News

A section of North Short Drive in the 1300-block was taped off early Saturday due to washout from Hurricane Matthew. Waves crashed underneath some beachfront homes and covered the road and sand and foam. HANNAH DELACOURT/STARNEWS

Pups from the SOAR animal rescue shelter found a safer home to ride out the hurricane Saturday at Dog Days of Southport across the intracoastal waterway. Kevin Yates opened his new doggie day care center a few days ago so he could assist in housing the many pets and shelter animals of the area. Chip Ellis/For the Star News

A section of North Short Drive in the 1300-block was taped off early Saturday due to washout from Hurricane Matthew. Waves crashed underneath some beachfront homes and covered the road and sand and foam. HANNAH DELACOURT/STARNEWS

Wallace Park flooded Saturday near Market Street in Wilmington. JIM WARE/STARNEWS

Burnt Mill Creek was out of its banks Saturday afternoon near the Wilmington National Cemetery on Market Street in Wilmington. JIM WARE/STARNEWS

Patrol deputies turn away drivers looking to cross the bridge at Ocean Isle Beach. MAKENZIE HOLLAND STARNEWS STAFF

Flooding in Oak Island COURTESY OF JARET SEARS

Flooding in Oak Island COURTESY OF JARET SEARS

No flooding on Edgewater Club Road near Porters Neck Elementary HANNAH DELACOURT STARNEWS STAFF

Flooding in Oak Island COURTESY OF JARET SEARS

The tide, wind and rain washed plenty ashore on Ocean Drive in Oak Island. Chip Ellis/For The StarNews

Gretchen Byrd and Kenny Wells walk toward their dock on the Intracoastal Waterway at Holden Beach. The waterway is normally falls 8-10 feet under the dock (posts visible). COURTESY OF GRAY WELLS

Residents see what they can of the destruction of the end of the Oak Island Pier, which lost about 200 feet of its end because of the storm. Chip Ellis/For The StarNews

Kristy Stiller "You can see the end of the pier floating away thru the beams" COURTESY OF KRISTY STILLER

Johnnie Mercer Pier around 4:30 Saturday afternoon. COURTESY OF TIM ARMSTRONG

Princess Place Neighborhood. COURTESY OF MOLLY DARDEN

Burgaw Walking trail. COURTESY OF JASON SIMMONS

Front and 3rd streets. COURTESY OF AMANDA BOWERS

Flooding in Oak Island COURTESY OF JARET SEARS

The tide, wind and rain took out fencing and dunes on Oak Island. Chip Ellis/For The StarNews