Florence continues battering the Carolinas well after it has lost hurricane strength.
Officials now say at least 11 people have died just in North Carolina with 15 total deaths attributed to Florence. State officials have let residents of the Outer Banks return to their homes, but they are telling out-of-state drivers to avoid North Carolina altogether and also avoid using Interstate 95 — the nation’s busiest highway. Portions of I-95, Interstate 40 and another 600 roads have been closed this weekend.
At least 80,000 power customers are without power just in North Carolina alone. Westar Energy has released electric contractors to help restore power.
North Carolina’s governor says at least 900 people have been rescued.
Florence barely moved Saturday, triggering massive rainfall amounts of 15-30 inches along the Carolina coastlines. The storm is expected to pick up speed today, with the remnants possibly centered over eastern Kentucky by Monday morning. The storm is also expected to dump heavy rain across parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and other nearby states before going out to sea early Wednesday.
2 pm Saturday: Westar releases contractors to help with devastating impact of Florence
Tropical Storm Florence continues to wreak havoc on the Carolinas.
Some places in North Carolina have received 20-30 inches of rainfall as of noon Saturday and rain continues to come down. The toll is sobering: at least five dead, 400 water rescues with at least 100 more still needed and over 800,000 North Carolina homes and businesses without power.
Rivers in the storm-affected area could be as high as 17 feet above flood stage at their crest the next few days.
Help is coming from all across the country, including Kansas. Westar Energy has released electric contractors to help restore power.
Florence has nearly stalled since coming onshore Friday. Moving at 2-3 mph for much of Saturday, the storm should eventually pick up some speed, with the center possibly moving into Tennessee by late Sunday and into eastern Kentucky or western West Virginia by Monday morning.