Devastated city welcomes food, water

Wilmington opened centers to distribute food, water and tarps Tuesday as officials in the North Carolina city struggled to feed a population cut off by the historic floods of once-mighty Hurricane Florence.

The Cape Fear River, normally a tourist attraction and economic boon, has brought the city of 120,000 to its knees. Residents who didn’t flee before Florence hit last week are reliant on essentials rolling in on high-water trucks and helicopters.

The river set a record Monday when it reached 22.54 feet in the town of Burgaw, 25 miles to the north.

“The river will continue to rise in the coming days,” the National Weather Service said. “Stay safe, river flooding is still a major concern!”

The storm has been blamed for at least 32 deaths since it hit the coast of North Carolina last week. More than 300,000 utility customers across the state remained without power Tuesday.

Some areas saw up to 36 inches of rain. Wilmington’s total was about 24 inches. The combination of high winds and storm surge from Florence’s initial impact, plus the rain, paralyzed the city. Most homes and businesses have no power.

The city welcomed 20 high-water trucks from Fort Bragg, packed with enough food and water for 60,000 people for four days. Access to the city remained limited. Stores and gas stations were running out of essentials.

Residents lined up for hours for ice at the Rose Ice and Coal Co. Desperate for gas to run a generator at his home, Nick Monroe waited in a half-milelong line at a station that ran out.

More than a dozen North Carolina rivers are likely to crest in major flood stage this week.