Florence Downgraded To Tropical Storm, Relentless Rain Continues

Day 2 of the effects of Florence in North Carolina on Friday was one of rising water and driving rain that caused multiple fatalities, massive flooding and widespread power outages, and while the storm has been downgraded to tropical storm status, forecasters say that downshifting hurricane-force winds all but promise more destruction in the state over the coming days.

"Life-threatening, catastrophic flash floods and prolonged significant river flooding are likely over portions of the Carolinas and the southern to central Appalachians from western North Carolina into southwest Virginia through early next week, as Florence moves slowly inland," the National Hurricane Center said Friday in an 11 p.m. bulletin. "In addition to the flash flood and flooding threat, landslides are also possible in the higher terrain of the southern and central Appalachians across western North Carolina into southwest Virginia."

More than 30 inches of rain fell Friday on some areas of North Carolina and there's much more to come.
Another 25 inches was forecast to fall on the North Carolina coast and into far northeastern South Carolina over the next couple days, and up to 10 inches could hit the remainder of those states and southwest Virginia, causing flash flooding and walls of storm surges in several areas.

“The storm is going to continue its violent grind across our state for days,” said Gov. Roy Cooper in a Friday afternoon briefing.

The National Hurricane Center reported late Friday afternoon that while Florence had weakened to a tropical storm, it still packed 70 mph winds and is forecast to be a tropical depression by late Saturday.

By Friday afternoon, Wilmington police were reporting the first fatalities attributed to Hurricane Florence. A woman and her infant died after a tree fell on their home, police said. The incident was first reported about 1 p.m. Friday. The fatalities were confirmed at 2:45 p.m. local time. The infant's father also was injured and has been taken to a nearby hospital, police reported.

In Pender County, officials said a woman who was having a heart attack died when emergency crews could not reach her because of downed trees that blocked the road. A front-end loader removed the trees, but the woman had died before emergency crews arrived.

Another two people, both in their 70s, were killed in Lenoir County, one while trying to connect two extension cords outside in the rain, and the other when he went outside to check on his hunting dogs and was blown down by wind, authorities said.

Hurricane Florence made landfall about 7:15 a.m. Friday, with sustained winds of about 90 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Moving forward at about 6 mph, the destruction of hurricane-force winds crept up on the Carolina coast, almost at a walking pace.

Some people who ignored evacuation orders were stranded in rising floodwaters and needed to be rescued Friday by emergency crews as the full force of Florence was unleashed upon North Carolina, according to media reports. Meantime, FEMA administrator Brock Long warned "this is why we ask you to leave" of those who did not heed the government's evacuation orders.

CNN reported that some 200 people were pulled from floodwaters in the small city of New Bern, North Carolina, on Friday. The news station said that another 150 people had to be left behind as the storm conditions worsened.

Electric companies warned that power may not be restored for some people for several days; others could be without electricity for weeks.

"We expect outages to be extended throughout the weekend and weeks to come in many areas," Four County EMC said in a statement after more than 27,000 of its customers lost electricity. "Due to the severity of storm and the safety of our crews we will not be sending out any crews until conditions improve. We do not have a restoration time for any area."

More than 390,000 Duke Energy customers in North Carolina were without power Friday as were about another 20,000 people it serves in South Carolina; the company said its workers have not yet been able to assess damage to provide an estimate for restoration.

The Duke customers are among 759,013 utility customers in North Carolina who didn't have power, according to the PowerOutageUS tracker.

Flying debris and continuously pelting rain forced local emergency operations to cease in Sunset Beach, NC, near the South Carolina border, WWAY reported.

On Thursday evening, flooding was being reported in waterfront towns such as Wilmington and New Bern, preceding a surge the National Weather Service said could reach 12 feet.

A weather observation site in Cape Lookout, NC, reported sustained winds of 83 mph and a peak gust of 106 mph Thursday evening. A gauge in Oriental, NC, on the Neuse River is recording water levels more than 5 feet above normal.

In New Bern, rising waters forced WCTI-TV to sign off the air and hand off coverage to its sister station in Myrtle Beach. The last two people in the building were the station's meteorologists, according to a tweet announcing the evacuation.

In Sneads Ferry, high winds caused a gas station pump to tip over but no injuries were reported. Structural damage also occurred at a service station in Morehead City.

"Get yourself to a safe place and stay there," Gov. Roy Cooper urged residents Thursday. "Wind speed may have dropped some from yesterday, but we traded that for a larger wind field," that extends 200 miles, he said.

The National Hurricane Center is predicting 20 inches to 30 inches of rain in parts of North and South Carolina, with 40 inches possible in isolated areas. The National Weather Service has said nearly 5 million people could experience at least 10 inches of rain over the next several days.

Here's how much rain is expected to fall through Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center:

Related coverage:

• Hurricane Florence Turns South: What It Means For NC
• Hurricane Florence: How North Carolina Can Prepare
• NC Residents Advised To Review Homeowners Insurance Now
• Where To Find Gas In NC: Hurricane Florence Evacuation
• Hurricane Florence Prep: How To Keep Kids Safe And Calm
• NC State Will Not Play Football Game Saturday Due To Florence
• List: North Carolina Schools Closing Due To Hurricane Florence
• 'This Storm Is A Monster': NC Governor Orders Coastal Evacuation
• Hurricane Florence Threatens Pigs, Catastrophic Waste Spills
• Freeze Your Leftovers And Other Tips Ahead Of Hurricane Florence
• Duke Energy: Florence Will Leave Millions Without Power For Weeks

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Patch Editor Kimberly Johnson contributed

Main Photo :High winds and water surround a house as Hurricane Florence hits Swansboro N.C., Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Tom Copeland)