Florence: Historic Flood Planned as Storm Hangs on Carolinas – Live coverage | News from the world

After being protected from the powerful storm, people emerged yesterday to find their devastated communities:

Many people in Wilmington emerged from their homes for the first time on Saturday morning on raised tree scenes and fallen power lines. Some residents were less concerned about floods and more by a long time without electricity. Sidney Este, whose 71-year-old mother was still inside her home, said, "I am especially concerned that the house is getting warmer and hotter.

Meteorologists have warned that it could take days and weeks after Florence's direct attack took place before the city sees rising water levels.

Saturday afternoon in Lumberton, North Carolina, the Lumber River was dangerously close to the floods. Authorities said the river was 14.45 feet – a foot and a half above flood level – and was expected to increase by 10 feet on Sunday. Southwest of Lumberton, it had already broken its banks. I-95, the main north-south highway, was to be flooded on Sunday

The gardians Adam Gabbatt is in Lumberton, North Carolina, which has been among the hardest hit by the first floods. Gabbatt writes:

Lumberton, about 80 miles northwest of Wilmington, was one of the most affected by the first floods. On Saturday night, much of southern Lumberton was under water as emergency teams fought to contain the Lumber River.

Turner Park, a trailer park in southwestern Lumberton, was under two feet of water on Saturday night as water rose rapidly. At 5 pm, the watchman observed that the water in the park was approaching 15 feet from the Martin Luther King Jr Drive in just 10 minutes.

Residents were asked to evacuate the park, where many 40 'x 12' trailers are installed on low ground. On the other side of the street, Newport Church, a beautiful white building with an impressive bell tower, was less than a foot of water at 6 pm.

Martin Luther King Drive was almost flooded, with water flapping on either side, and further north, many one-story homes were also flooded. The cars have struggled to make their way through the roads covered by a foot of water, with much more rain expected in the next few days.

Lumberton, where 25% of the population lives below the poverty line, was hit hard by Hurricane Matthew just two years ago, and residents again lost their property and property. As people scrambled to escape the flood, many evacuation shelters in Fayetteville were full at 6 pm.

The wood is considered flooded at 13 feet and the national meteorological service predicted Saturday, it will culminate at 24.9 feet Sunday afternoon, flooding the neighborhoods in its path.

Florence hovering over the Carolinas, and although the storm has weakened into a tropical depression, the National Hurricane Center warns that "catastrophic" floods could hit the region.

At least 11 people were killed in the storm and authorities warn residents in the affected areas to be extremely cautious while the threat of dangerous flash floods remains high.

Forecasters warned in the coming days that North Carolina could see the most destructive floods in the state's history, as rivers reach record levels.

At 5 am, the storm was centered about 20 miles southwest of Columbia, South Carolina.

We will provide live updates from reporters in North Carolina and South Carolina throughout the day.

The last update is here: