NORTH CAROLINA – (NBC News) At least four storm-related deaths have been confirmed as Hurricane Florence continues her slow assault on the Carolinas.
A mother and her 8-month-old child were killed when a tree fell on their Wilmington home. Another woman died when she suffered a medical emergency and rescuers could not reach her due to downed trees. The fourth death occurred in Lenoir County, where a person was electrocuted while plugging in a generator.
Florence made landfall early Friday as a Category 1 storm and slowly began pushing to the southeast.
Rain and storm surge remains the biggest threat. Forecasters say the rain will be measured in feet, not inches, and will last through the weekend.
“This is something we have not seen before, this much rain, a hurricane staying on top of us for this long,” warned South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster.
In the riverfront community of New Bern, those who did not evacuate were quickly overtaken by the rising Neuse River.
“It was horrifying, just wondering what’s going on and where the water is going to go, and how high it’s going to go and if we were going to get out,” said New Bern resident Colleen Meyers.
Swift water rescue teams brought hundreds to higher ground.
Read more: https://nbcnews.to/2Nc9fyA
.@LesterHoltNBC takes you inside a dramatic rescue as Hurricane Florence batters the Carolinas. https://t.co/MWtn7ubmJK
More tonight on @NBCNightlyNews. pic.twitter.com/rEzpD7D1T4
— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) September 14, 2018
