On September 15, 1999, Hurricane Floyd struck eastern North Carolina, bringing historic flooding and causing the loss of 35 lives in the state. Ten days earlier, Hurricane Dennis had dropped about 8 inches of rain in the area, ending a prolonged dry period but causing little damage. Floyd then produced 20 inches of rain in Greenville, and the Tar River there crested at a record 25.67 feet on September 21, 1999. Floyd became a hurricane on September 10 and reached peak intensity on September 13 with sustained winds of 156 miles per hour, a strong Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, and its great size, 580 miles across, made it one of the largest Atlantic hurricanes of its strength ever recorded. When it made landfall on September 16, it was still a strong Category 2 hurricane with winds of 105 miles per hour. Although all North Carolina river basins were affected, flooding along the Tar River was the worst, devastating Rocky Mount, Tarboro, Princeville, Greenville, and Washington. Severe flooding came days after the storm as the river spread onto streets, over bridges, and into homes, catching many residents unaware and leaving them to wait on rooftops or in trees for rescue by boat or helicopter. Most of Greenville lost power and was cut off by road closures, while the Greenville Utilities Commission power station, water treatment plant, and sewage treatment plant were flooded. East Carolina University closed for two weeks, and nearly 5,000 students and others were forced from apartments and homes near the Tar River. Floodwater damaged more than 670 homes in Greenville and another 200 outside the city limits, and total losses for the city and its residents were estimated at more than $91 million. River Park North was severely damaged, and although many demolished homes were replaced, others in the flood zone were acquired by the city. The storm left a lasting legacy in Greenville and North Carolina as many riverfront areas were converted to parks and greenways to help preserve water quality and habitats and to buffer future storms, while Pitt County and East Carolina University later became StormReady for their planning and training for severe weather.