Hurricane Florence’s official death toll rose to 23 people Monday, with local authorities warning residents to avoid areas prone to flooding as torrential rains and swollen rivers continue to threaten the Carolinas.
According to NPR, “People in North Carolina and South Carolina are coping with flooding, closed roads and power outages as they assess damage from Hurricane Florence. The storm is blamed for at least 23 deaths, and life-threatening floods are expected to continue all this week, the National Weather Service says.”
New York Task Force 1 (NY-TF1) is patrolling the town Pollocksville, NC, to conduct evacuations and welfare checks. #Hurricane Florence pic.twitter.com/XvqHocpaYj
— NYC Emergency Management (@nycemergencymgt) September 17, 2018
North Carolina authorities “confirmed the deaths” of 17 residents due to the storm, said Governor Roy Cooper, adding “”the danger is still immediate” for many towns on the coast and further inland.
FLORENCE ARRIVES: Major Hurricane Hits Carolinas, +300k Without Power, Hundreds Stranded
Hurricane Florence slammed the Carolina coast early Friday morning; cutting power to over 300,000 residents and leaving hundreds stranded as the massive storm caused severe flooding and torrential rain.
“Hurricane Florence made landfall near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, early Friday morning, thrashing the already battered coast with hurricane-force winds and heavy rains that officials warned could trigger catastrophic floods further inland,” writes Fox News.
NEW: #Hurricane #Florence has made landfall near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina at 7:15 AM EDT (1115 UTC) with estimated maximum winds of 90 mph (150 km/h), and a minimum central pressure estimate of 958 mb (28.29"). https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb pic.twitter.com/vzpe6MjTf9
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 14, 2018
According to initial estimates, the tide in Emerald Isle, NC was a staggering seven feet above average.
Hurricane Florence @ midnight 9.13.18
Pungo River is raging across Belhaven, NC
Stay safe y’all! pic.twitter.com/zYbKCKBLnY— ʜᴏᴏᴘ (@unicornhippieee) September 14, 2018
Read the full story at Fox News.
FLORENCE GETS DEADLY: First Fatalities Reported as Hurricane Florence Slams Carolinas
Local police in North Carolina confirmed the first official deaths caused by Hurricane Florence Friday, confirming two fatalities occurred when a tree slammed into a house in Wilmington, NC.
According to Wilmington Police, the victims were a mother and her infant. The father was taken to a local hospital with injuries.
WPD can confirm the first two fatalities of Hurricane #Florence in Wilmington. A mother and infant were killed when a tree fell on their house. The father was transported to NHRMC with injuries. https://t.co/FC5PAhuxig
— Wilmington Police (@WilmingtonPD) September 14, 2018
The powerful storm is slowly making its way inland from the Carolina coast with local residents warned of torrential downpours, high winds, flooded rivers, and power outages in the days ahead.
Read the full story at Fox News.