Tropical storm Eta brings heavy rain to the Carolinas and Virginia

Tropical Storm Eta, which was once a devastating hurricane, throws heavy rains on the Carolinas and Virginia. Houses and roads are flooded and bridges are warped, at least four people have died, dozens have had to be rescued and several are missing.

The flooding was so rapid and severe at a campsite that rising waters left three people dead and at least 31 people trapped had to be rescued. Parts of the Carolinas saw 3-7 inches of rain.

Rescuers are racing against the clock in search of several missing people, believed to have been washed away by the floods, including a one-year-old baby.

Heavy rains and flooding that engulfed the state destroyed bridges with abandoned cars, creating mudslides and road accidents and leaving families stranded. In one case, a WJZY reporter was live on camera when the bridge she was standing on began to collapse.

The water rose so quickly that vehicles at a North Carolina elementary school were completely submerged and 143 people had to be evacuated.

“About 50 roads across the county were compromised with four bridges that were washed away. We had several quick water rescue personnel,” said Doug Gillespie, county utilities manager.

Eta hit Latin America and southern Miami earlier this week and Tampa overnight, where the storm washed boats ashore.

While not the most powerful storm to hit the United States this year, Eta has always had a big impact in the South and has been linked to at least one death in the Tampa Bay area.

With very little time to prepare or to warn of the force of the storm, families caught in Eta were left with an uncertain future.

“It blows your mind that there is someone you love and that they are lost in the water,” said a North Carolina resident.