Hurricane Matthew death toll holds at 20 in NC
Their worst days could be ahead, with the waterways projected to crest later in the week and then linger at abnormally high levels for days.
The state's death toll rose to 20 on Wednesday, Gov.
On Thursday morning, however, the governor said no more deaths had been reported for the first time in nine days and called that "incredibly positive news."
A short time later,
Information from Faircloth's cell phone usage and other leads prompted the sheriff's dive team to search a body of water near the 55 mile marker off
McCrory also warned that the state will not reopen all roads as soon as water recedes because they may be too damaged to be safe. He planned to tour
"We've got a lot of structural work to do," especially on bridges, he said.
"I think
McCrory said at a Thursday morning briefing that now, "We've got to get these people out of shelters" and into hotel rooms or rental properties and then into housing provided by the
McCrory said 60
After visiting shelters, McCrory said, "I have never met more resilient and thankful people" who are bearing up even though "it's their whole lives they feel like they've lost."
The most recent death, McCrory said, was reported in
On Wednesday evening, the
The trooper was identified as Sgt.
There have been 2,300 rescues performed since flooding in the hurricane's aftermath forced people out of their homes. Eighty have been air rescues by the
Sections of
All seven
By
While some on the coast and other areas where the floodwaters have receded began to return to homes and assess the damage,
Then it could be another week, according to some models, before the waters recede to normal levels.
The flooding in Hurricane Matthew's aftermath has struck a blow in some of the state's more impoverished regions. Many of those being forced to find temporary housing lack flood insurance and other benefits they will need as the waters recede, and they face new problems from tainted water systems and moldy housing. Many suffered similar losses after Hurricane Floyd.
About 1,000 people gathered at the
In the town of
After Floyd inundated
By Wednesday, their homes were getting wet as at least three feet of water filled the town.
"We can't go anywhere," Rigney said. "The roads are all cut off."
Routes to
"Then we have to wait for it to recede, and after that there is all the massive cleanup," Rigney said. "This is not going to be a two- or three-day fix."
Beyond the immediate and pending emergencies,
McCrory said he requested federal assistance for individuals as well as state and local governments for 66 counties. By Wednesday, homeowners and renters in 14 counties were able to apply for federal assistance to repair or rebuild damaged homes, and 34 counties were approved for public federal assistance.
Staff photographer
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