Florence rains wash away New Bern’s beloved statues
Published at
Faith Karimi, CNN
(CNN) — The deadly Tropical Storm Florence is so ferocious, it’s uprooting everything, even tightly-bolted historic statues.
In New Bern, North Carolina, one of the cities hardest-hit by the storm that made landfall Friday as a Category 1 hurricane, a beloved bear statue and its thick pedestal were uprooted and washed away.
“Some of our beloved bears have wandered away,” city officials tweeted next to a picture of the statue. “These statues, which New Bern is known for, are extremely heavy & bolted down at sponsoring businesses. This one ended up in the middle of S. Front St!”
The bear is surrounded by water, but its colonial-era coat, breeches and buckled shoes remain intact.
The Florence center is crawling inland over South Carolina, but its main rain bands are hitting already-saturated North Carolina — setting up what may be days of flooding for some communities.
New Bern, which has a population of about 30,000, was once the capital of the state’s colonial government . It’s also the birthplace of Pepsi — invented at a pharmacy in the city in 1898.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.
This weather-related story is brought to you by Pony Express Car Wash, Idaho's premier express car wash destination, renowned for its commitment to exceptional service and quality. Voted the No. 1 car wash company in Idaho for three consecutive years, we pride ourselves on delivering an unparalleled experience for every vehicle and customer. Our state-of-the-art facility utilizes name-brand soaps and cutting-edge equipment to ensure your car receives the ultimate clean. Established in eastern Idaho in 2019, Pony Express is proud to be a locally owned and operated company that caters to the unique car washing needs of our Idaho Friends and neighbors. We invite you to experience the difference at Pony Express, where your satisfaction is our ultimate goal.