Florence causing more flooding and misery
Thousands of coastal residents in South and North Carolina remain on edge after being told they may need to leave their homes because rivers are still rising more than a week after Hurricane Florence.
About 6000 to 8000 people in Georgetown County, South Carolina, were alerted to be prepared to evacuate ahead of a “record event” of up to 3m of flooding expected from heavy rains dumped by Florence, county spokeswoman Jackie BroachAkers said. She said flooding was expected to begin tomorrow near parts of the Pee Dee and Waccamaw rivers and that people in potential flood zones should plan to leave their homes today.
In North Carolina, five river gauges were still at major flood stage and five others were at moderate flood stage, according to the National Weather Service. The Cape Fear River was expected to crest and remain at flood stage through the early part of the week, and parts of Interstate 40 are expected to remain under water for another week or more.
Floodwaters already receding on one stretch of Interstate 40 left thousands of rotting fish on the pavement for firefighters to clean up. Video showed firefighters blasting the dead fish off the highway with a fire hose in Pender County in eastern North Carolina. The Penderlea Fire Department posted online: “We can add ‘washing fish off of the interstate’ to the long list of interesting things fire- fighters get to experience.”
North Carolina Emergency Management Director Michael Sprayberry said that eastern counties continued to see major flooding, including areas along the Black, Lumber, Neuse and Cape Fear rivers.
“Florence continues to bring misery to North Carolina,” North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said in a statement Sunday evening.
We can add ‘washing fish off of the interstate’ to the long list of interesting things firefighters get to experience. The Penderlea Fire Department
He added that crews conducted about 350 rescues over the weekend and that travel remains treacherous in the southeastern area of his state.
In Washington, Congress is starting to consider almost US$1.7 billion ($2.55b) in new money to aid recovery efforts from Florence.
An economic research firm estimated that Florence has caused around US$44b in damage and lost output, which would make it one of the top 10 costliest US hurricanes.