2 storm victims found in N.C. floodwaters
RALEIGH, N.C. — Authorities combing areas of western North Carolina flooded by the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred said Thursday that two people have been found dead and about 20 were unaccounted for.
Meanwhile, Fred — now a posttropical cyclone — was pushing through New York and New England with drenching rains, and Tropical Storm Henri was sending dangerous waves onto East Coast beaches. Forecasters said Henri likely will strengthen into a hurricane as it approaches the northeastern U.S. early next week.
And in Mexico, Hurricane Grace struck the Caribbean coast just south of the ancient Mayan temples of Tulum, tearing the roofs off homes, knocking out power to thousands and keeping tourists off white sand beaches as it crossed the Yucatan Peninsula.
The Category 1 storm struck with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph before weakening to a tropical storm as it moved over land. But by Thursday night it was in the Gulf of Mexico, where it was expected to regain hurricane strength before it hits the Mexican mainland’s central Gulf coast Friday night or early Saturday.
In North Carolina, Haywood County Emergency Services said the two bodies were found after flooding that prompted dozens of water rescues. Their identities weren’t immediately released.
Around 20 people remained missing.
The storm that blew through the area Tuesday made roads impassible, washed out bridges, and swamped homes and businesses.
Another Fred-related death was reported earlier in the week in Florida, where a driver hydroplaned and flipped his car into a flooded ditch.
More than 200 people searched flooded areas Thursday along North Carolina’s Pigeon River. At least 10 bridges were damaged or destroyed in the Cruso community, where engineering teams worked to build temporary bridges to allow people in and out of their homes.
“Our search crews are actively working, searching for more victims and more survivors,” Travis Donaldson, emergency services director for Haywood County, said at a news conference.
Kevin Sandefur, CEO and founder of BearWaters Brewing Company in Canton, said the flooding wiped out an outdoor seating section the brewery added to make customers feel safer during the pandemic.
“It was very frightening. I was more concerned for everybody’s safety,” he said.