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'Worst yet to come': Florence leaves 11 dead as North Carolina braces for massive flooding 'Worst yet to come': Florence leaves 13 dead as North Carolina braces for massive flooding
(35 minutes later)
As the death toll from Florence mounted and hundreds of people were pulled from flooded homes, North Carolina braced for what could be the next stage of a still-unfolding disaster: widespread, catastrophic river flooding with severe implications for residents and environmental safety. As the death toll from Florence rose and hundreds were pulled from flooded homes, North Carolina braced for the next stage of the disaster: widespread, catastrophic flooding with severe implications for residents and environmental safety.
As the death toll climbed to 11, Mitch Colvin, the mayor of the city of Fayetteville, told reporters: “The worst is yet to come.” The death toll reached at least 13. Mitch Colvin, mayor of the city of Fayetteville, told reporters: “The worst is yet to come.”
On Saturday evening, Duke Energy said heavy rains caused a slope to collapse at a coal ash landfill at a closed power station outside Wilmington. Duke spokeswoman Paige Sheehan said about 2,000 cubic yards of ash were displaced at the Sutton Plant and that contaminated storm water likely flowed into the plant’s cooling pond. On Saturday, Duke Energy said heavy rains caused a slope to collapse at a coal ash landfill at a closed power station outside the historic port city of Wilmington. Duke spokeswoman Paige Sheehan said about 2,000 cubic yards of ash were displaced at the Sutton Plant and contaminated storm water likely flowed into the cooling pond.
Sutton was mothballed in 2013 and the company has been excavating ash to remove to safer lined landfills. The ash left behind when coal is burned contains toxic heavy metals, including lead and arsenic. Sutton was mothballed in 2013. The ash left behind when coal is burned contains toxic heavy metals, including lead and arsenic.
After blowing ashore as a hurricane with 90mph winds, Florence virtually parked itself much of the weekend over the Carolinas as it pulled warm water from the ocean and hurled it onshore. Storm surges, flash floods and winds scattered destruction widely, and the marines, the coast guard, civilian crews and volunteers used helicopters, boats and heavy-duty vehicles to conduct rescues. After blowing ashore as a hurricane with 90mph winds, Florence parked over the Carolinas and storm surges, flash floods and winds scattered destruction widely. Marines, the coast guard, civilian crews and volunteers used helicopters, boats and heavy-duty vehicles to conduct rescues.
Florence weakened to a tropical depression early Sunday and was crawling west at 8mph. At 5am, the storm was centered about 20 miles south-west of Columbia, South Carolina. Its winds were down to 35mph. Florence weakened to a tropical depression early on Sunday and was crawling west at 8mph. At 5am, the storm was about 20 miles south-west of Columbia, South Carolina. Winds were down to 35mph. But in North Carolina, rivers were swelling towards record levels and thousands were ordered to evacuate. The evacuation zone included part of the city of Fayetteville.
But in North Carolina rivers were swelling towards record levels, forecasters warned, and thousands of people were ordered to evacuate for fear that the next few days could bring the most destructive round of flooding in state history.
Stream gauges showed water levels rising steadily, with forecasts calling for rivers to crest on Sunday and Monday at or near record levels: the Little River, the Cape Fear, the Lumber, the Neuse, the Waccamaw and the Pee Dee were all projected to burst their banks.
This is not a talking point. We are saying this because we are concerned with you. The worst is yet to comeThis is not a talking point. We are saying this because we are concerned with you. The worst is yet to come
Authorities ordered the evacuation of up to 7,500 people within a mile of a stretch of the Cape Fear River and the Little River, about 100 miles from the coast. The evacuation zone included part of the city of Fayetteville, population 200,000. “This is not a talking point,” Colvin said. “This is not a script, but we are saying this because we are concerned with you. The worst is yet to come. If you are refusing to leave during this mandatory evacuation, you need to do things like notify your legal next of kin. The loss of life is very, very possible.”
Fayetteville officials got help from the Nebraska Task Force One search and rescue team to evacuate some 140 residents of an assisted living facility to a safer location at a church.
“This is not a talking point,” Mayor Colvin said. “This is not a script, but we are saying this because we are concerned with you. The worst is yet to come.”
“If you are refusing to leave during this mandatory evacuation, you need to do things like notify your legal next of kin. The loss of life is very, very possible.”
The state’s governor, Roy Cooper, underscored the message: “I cannot overstate it: Floodwaters are rising, and if you aren’t watching for them, you are risking your life.”The state’s governor, Roy Cooper, underscored the message: “I cannot overstate it: Floodwaters are rising, and if you aren’t watching for them, you are risking your life.”
The dead included a mother and baby killed by a falling tree in Wilmington, North Carolina. South Carolina recorded its first death from the storm, with officials saying a 61-year-old woman was killed when her car hit a tree that fell across a highway. Forecasts said rivers would crest on Sunday and Monday at record or near-record levels: the Little River, the Cape Fear, the Lumber, the Neuse, the Waccamaw and the Pee Dee were all projected to burst their banks.
Three died in one inland county, Duplin, because of water on roads and flash floods, authorities said. A husband and wife died in a storm-linked house fire, officials said, and an 81-year-old man died after falling while packing to evacuate. The Lumber is considered flooded at 13ft. The National Weather Service predicted on Saturday that it would crest at 24.9ft on Sunday afternoon. Much of the south of the city was already under water on Saturday, as emergency crews battled to contain the river.
The White House declared a major disaster in the state and said Donald Trump would visit storm-affected areas next week. Turner Park, a trailer park, was under 2ft on Saturday evening with the water rising quickly. At 5pm the Guardian watched as water crept towards Martin Luther King Jr Drive. Residents had been told to evacuate the park, where scores of 40ft x 12ft trailers stand on low-lying land. Across the road Newport Church, a handsome white building with an impressive steeple, was under about a foot of water.
Martin Luther King Drive was almost covered. Further north, many single-storey homes were flooded. Cars struggled over roads covered with a foot of water.
Twenty-five per cent of the population of Lumberton lives below the poverty line. The city was hit hard by Hurricane Matthew just two years ago. Residents face losing property and possessions all over again. On Saturday, as people scrambled to escape the flood, many evacuation shelters in nearby Fayetteville were full by 6pm.
The dead included a mother and baby killed by a falling tree in Wilmington. Three died in one inland county, Duplin, because of water on roads and flash floods, authorities said. A husband and wife died in a storm-linked house fire, officials said, and an 81-year-old man died after falling while packing to evacuate.
South Carolina recorded its first death from the storm, officials saying a 61-year-old woman was killed when her car hit a tree that fell across a highway. On Sunday morning, authorities in the state said two more people had died, after using a generator inside their home.
Horry county chief deputy coroner Tamara Willard said 63-year-old Mark Carter King and 61-year-old Debra Collins Rion were killed by breathing in carbon monoxide. Willard said their bodies were found in a home in Loris on Saturday afternoon, but they likely died the day before.
The White House declared a major disaster in North Carolina and said Donald Trump would visit storm-affected areas next week.
When the official toll stood lower on Saturday, Trump tweeted: “Five deaths have been recorded thus far with regard to hurricane Florence! Deepest sympathies and warmth go out to the families and friends of the victims. May God be with them!”When the official toll stood lower on Saturday, Trump tweeted: “Five deaths have been recorded thus far with regard to hurricane Florence! Deepest sympathies and warmth go out to the families and friends of the victims. May God be with them!”
Hurricane FlorenceHurricane Florence
HurricanesHurricanes
Natural disasters and extreme weatherNatural disasters and extreme weather
North CarolinaNorth Carolina
US weatherUS weather
South CarolinaSouth Carolina
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