After Hurricane Florence in 2018, National Weather Service storm surveyors photographed a surge wrack line, the band of marsh grass and debris left at the high-water mark, on Royal Oak Drive off Myrtle Grove Road. That image sums up the area well: this is a mainland suburb south of Wilmington, but it borders the sound side of the Intracoastal Waterway, so tidal water can reach streets that are miles from the ocean beach.
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Between Monkey Junction and Snows Cut
The Myrtle Grove census-designated place spans about 7.2 square miles across the Federal Point and Masonboro townships, with roughly half a square mile of water inside its boundary. Its population climbed from 2,552 in 1980 to 11,476 in 2020. To the north is Monkey Junction, the crossroads of College Road and Carolina Beach Road that still appears on some maps as Myrtle Grove Junction. To the south, Snows Cut links the Cape Fear River with Myrtle Grove Sound and separates the mainland from Pleasure Island.
That mix of waterfront property and fast-growing neighborhoods away from the water means water damage here ranges from sound-side flooding to the plumbing failures any growing suburb sees.
Sound-Side Surge and Stalled Tropical Rain
Surge along the sound behaves differently from ocean surge. It usually arrives with smaller waves but can push into low yards, docks, garages and crawl spaces near the water, and it lingers with the tide. Florence's wrack line off Myrtle Grove Road showed how far it reached in 2018; the same storm also produced a pressure reading of 959 millibars at a weather station at Myrtle Grove's Veterans Park.
Rain is the other threat. On September 16, 2024, a slow-moving tropical system put 8.28 inches on a gauge at Myrtle Grove Sound and 9.12 inches just west of Monkey Junction, while a gauge on River Road north of Snows Cut caught 15.85 inches. Carolina Beach Road was closed by flooding. Ditches and retention ponds that handle ordinary storms can overflow quickly in totals like that.
Steps for a Flooded Garage, Crawl Space or First Floor
- Turn off electricity to flooded areas at the breaker if you can reach it safely, or wait for the utility.
- Photograph water lines on walls, appliances and furniture before removing anything.
- Assume sound-side and storm runoff is contaminated; wear gloves and boots, and keep children and pets away.
- Pull carpet, pad and soft furnishings that sat in floodwater; most cannot be saved safely.
- Call your insurer, and ask about separate flood coverage if you have it.
Professional flood cleanup after brackish or runoff water generally involves extraction, removing affected drywall and insulation, disinfecting, then structural drying of framing, subfloor or slab before repairs. Crawl spaces need attention too, since standing water underneath keeps the house above it damp.
Mold Near Myrtle Grove Sound
Homes near the sound sit in damp, salty air, and coastal summers are long. Damp crawl spaces, closed-up houses after an evacuation, and wet drywall left in place for more than a couple of days are the common starting points for mold. Look for musty smells, staining on lower walls and condensation on ductwork under the house.
Remediation focuses on fixing the moisture source first, then removing and cleaning affected materials under containment. Painting over growth or spraying it without drying the area usually just delays the problem.
Checking Your Flood Zone South of Wilmington
Properties near the Intracoastal Waterway, Myrtle Grove Sound and the creeks that feed them may fall inside mapped flood zones, while others a few blocks away do not. Look up your address in the state Flood Risk Information System and keep a copy of any elevation certificate. A homeowners policy typically will not pay for rising water, so it is worth confirming flood coverage before hurricane season, not after a storm is named.
Neighboring Pleasure Island faces related risks; see water damage help in Carolina Beach.
Neighborhoods and Nearby Communities
Calls come in from across Myrtle Grove, including:
- Monkey Junction
The same line also serves nearby communities such as:
Questions From Myrtle Grove Property Owners
Can storm surge really reach homes in Myrtle Grove?
Yes, along the sound side. After Hurricane Florence in 2018, the National Weather Service documented a surge wrack line on Royal Oak Drive off Myrtle Grove Road. Sound-side surge typically has smaller waves than the oceanfront but can still flood garages, crawl spaces and ground floors near the water, and it often recedes slowly with the tides.
Is flooding from heavy rain covered by my homeowners policy?
Generally not when water rises from outside and enters the house. Rain that overwhelms ditches and ponds and flows in at ground level is usually treated as flood damage, which falls under a separate flood policy. Water entering through a storm-damaged roof may be handled differently. Go over your policy with your agent and document everything before cleanup.
What should I check under the house after a storm?
If your home has a crawl space, look for standing water, wet or fallen insulation, damp joists and disconnected ductwork. Water under the house raises humidity in the living space and can lead to mold and wood damage. A restoration provider can pump out water, remove wet insulation and dry the area with dehumidifiers and air movers.