Florence is now a tropical depression, but as it hovers over the Carolinas flooding is becoming worse in many areas. The storm is now blamed on at least 18 deaths. The Charlotte Observer shares the heartbreaking details of the latest victim:
Rescue workers in Union County on Monday found the body of a 1-year-old boy who was swept away in floodwaters on Sunday, adding to Tropical Storm Florence’s death toll.
The Union County Sheriff’s Office said shortly after 10 a.m. that the boy’s body had been recovered. Investigators said his mother drove around barricades on N.C. 218 and the car was floated off the road by a nearby flooded creek.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is still telling people to avoid flooded roads warning, “We cannot emphasize this enough: Do not drive through standing or moving water, even if it doesn’t appear deep.”
CNN shared drone footage (watch above) that shows some of the flooding on I-95 near Lumberton, NC where record breaking flooding has been recorded.
Update: New preliminary data indicates 13 different locations in NC have now topped the state's previous #tropical cyclone rain record. Four locations in SC have topped that state's previous record. (Kudos @DRmetwatch) #Florence https://t.co/cEujpDETUp pic.twitter.com/3WzGOvMsON
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) September 17, 2018
Hundreds of rescues have been carried out as people become trapped by flood waters. Here are some of the ones that were caught on camera.
Footage of U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer investigating a truck that was caught in fast-moving floodwaters highlights treacherous conditions as Florence causes "historic and unprecedented flooding" and leaves at least 17 people dead. https://t.co/UkkgR3t7dz pic.twitter.com/TPxOzYilbK
— ABC News (@ABC) September 17, 2018
An MH-60T Jayhawk Helicopter crew from #USCG Air Station Elizabeth City, evacuates residents from Rocky Point, NC due to flooding caused by #HurricaneFlorence. A total of 26 adults, 11 children, seven dogs and four cats were evacuated from the neighborhood. #Florence pic.twitter.com/af2VwGlVG9
— U.S. Coast Guard (@USCG) September 17, 2018
VIDEO: 2 saved after clinging to trees for hours in Duplin County https://t.co/me9zlAuwdI
— CBS 17 (@WNCN) September 17, 2018
The @uscoastguard just rescued a couple trapped in a trailer and about a dozen dogs in Columbus County, N.C. The dogs were swimming and barely above water when we got there. We ended up with a boat full of beagles! Check out the full rescue here https://t.co/MWGR8YyIu2 @USATODAY pic.twitter.com/jW34ON470J
— Christal Hayes (@Journo_Christal) September 16, 2018
#Pets are family, too. 🐶 @SCNationalGuard #soldiers conduct ongoing rescue and recovery efforts to help those affected by #Florence.#ArmyResponse #KnowYourMil pic.twitter.com/kNb7DpnsVQ
— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) September 16, 2018