'There is no access to Wilmington'(N.C.) by car or truck

begin quote from:'There is no access to Wilmington' as Florence flooding overwhelms North …

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With rivers rising, flooding from Florence to swamp Carolinas for days – or even weeks

Doyle Rice

3 hrs ago

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Slide 1 of 86: Houses sit in floodwater caused by Hurricane Florence, in this aerial picture, on the outskirts of Lumberton, North Carolina, U.S. September 17, 2018.

Full screen

1/86 SLIDES © Jason Miczek/Reuters

Hurricane Florence has been downgraded to tropical depression status and rescues continue after the storm brought severe flooding and multiple deaths to the Carolinas.

(Pictured) Houses sit in floodwater caused by Hurricane Florence, in this aerial picture, on the outskirts of Lumberton, North Carolina, on Sept. 17.

Gallery by photo services

Although the torrential rain from Florence may be coming to an end in the Carolinas, the slow-motion disaster of river flooding will continue to wreak havoc across the region for days – or potentially weeks.

It may take up to two weeks for all of the runoff to drain slowly downstream from the mountains to the coast, forecasters warn. As of midday Monday, 19 river gauges in the Carolinas were at "major" flood stage, the National Weather Service said, and record crests could be challenged or shattered in some communities.

"Waffle House keeps doors open in wake of Florence" will play after this ad - 00:12

Waffle House keeps doors open in wake of Florence

Nearly 20 rivers in the Carolinas were expected to crest in major flood stage this week, the Weather Channel said.

"Just because much of the rainfall has stopped does not mean the danger has ended," the National Weather Service in Wilmington, North Carolina, said Monday.

Officials warned that this could be the worst flooding in the state’s history. "Flooding has become catastrophic in some areas, and access to some communities will only be possible by boat into later this week," AccuWeather meteorologist Mike Doll said. "This is truly a life-threatening situation."

Rivers such as the Cape Fear, Lumber, Waccamaw and Pee Dee are most at risk. In Lumberton, North Carolina, the Lumber River crested at an all-time record high of 22.18 feet Monday morning.

“It’s hard going through it all over again,” Lumberton resident Bruce Mullis said, recalling Hurricane Matthew's rampage in 2016. “It’s only been two years. It’s honestly traumatizing.”

In Fayetteville, the Cape Fear River is forecast to crest at 61.8 feet on Tuesday, which is more than 25 feet above flood stage and only 7 feet below the all-time record. Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate in that city as the rivers rise.

Record river flooding has already been reported in several North Carolina cities and towns, including Chinquapin, Trenton and Manchester, the Weather Channel said.

As rivers swelled, North Carolina state regulators and environmental groups were monitoring the threat from gigantic hog and poultry farms located in low-lying, flood-prone areas.

The flooding will next expand into western North Carolina and Virginia, including potential landslides in parts of the Appalachians, Weather Channel hurricane expert Rick Knabb said.

"We need everyone to be just as afraid of flooding as you would be for the winds of a hurricane or tornado," Knabb said. "Waters are rising in entire communities. If you’re trapped in a flooded building, go to the highest level and call 911."

At least 18 people have been killed by Florence or its remnants since the storm first hit the region late last week.

The storm will easily beome the USA's costliest hurricane of the year, so far: "AccuWeather estimates that Florence will cause $30 to $60 billion in economic impact and damage."

The flooding will next expand into western North Carolina and Virginia, including potential landslides in parts of the Appalachians, Weather Channel hurricane expert Rick Knabb said.

"We need everyone to be just as afraid of flooding as you would be for the winds of a hurricane or tornado," Knabb said. "Waters are rising in entire communities. If you’re trapped in a flooded building, go to the highest level and call 911."

At least 18 people have been killed by Florence or its remnants since the storm first hit the region late last week.

The storm will easily beome the USA's costliest hurricane of the year, so far: "AccuWeather estimates that Florence will cause $30 to $60 billion in economic impact and damage."