Florence's dangerous 'flooding is only going to get worse,' officials warn

"We have never seen flash flooding like this," one North Carolina official said.

September 15, 2018, 7:03 PM

Florence's dangerous flooding "is only going to get worse," North Carolina's director of emergency management warned Saturday as massive amounts of rain devastate the state.

"We have never seen flash flooding like this in our state," state Transportation Secretary Jim Trogdon added at a press conference Saturday afternoon.

Trogdon said flash flooding will last for several days and river and marine flooding could last up to a week.

An abandoned car's hazard lights continue to flash as it sits submerged in rising flood waters during pre-dawn hours after Hurricane Florence struck in Wilmington, N.C., Sept. 15, 2018.
Jonathan Drake/Reuters

"We just don't want people to think this thing is over, because it's not," North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper added Saturday of Florence, which made landfall near Wrightsville Beach Friday morning as a hurricane and has since been downgraded to a tropical storm.

"We know the water is rising fast everywhere -- even in places that don't typically flood," Cooper said.

Catastrophic flooding

A man crosses a flooded street in downtown Wilmington, N.C., after Hurricane Florence made landfall Friday, Sept. 14, 2018.
AP

Catastrophic flooding has already wreaked havoc on parts of eastern North Carolina, which sustained 2 feet of rain in some areas, and up to 40 inches in other hard-hit spots.

Newport, North Carolina, reported 23.75 inches of rainfall by Saturday morning.

Hoffman, North Carolina, has seen 19.96 inches and Conway, South Carolina, has seen 8.68 inches -- with two days of rainfall to come.

The mast of a sunken boat sits at a dock at the Grand View Marina in New Bern, N.C., on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Winds and rains from Hurricane Florence caused the Neuse River to swell, swamping the coastal city.
AP

At least 13 people were reported dead in the storm, with three in South Carolina and the other 10 in North Carolina.

Among the fatalities are a mother and her baby killed in Wilmington, North Carolina, by a falling tree, and an 81-year-old man who fell and struck his head while packing to evacuate in Wayne County, North Carolina.

President Donald Trump tweeted his condolences to the storm's victims Saturday evening.

There were nearly 800,000 people without power in North and South Carolina combined Saturday evening.

Tropical Storm Florence continues to unleash massive amount of rain on Lumberton, N.C., on Sept. 15, 2018, causing downed trees and power lines and minor flooding in areas.
Jeremiah Wilson/USA TODAY NETWORK

Rescuers navigate currents to reach trapped residents

As the water levels rise, dire rescues are ongoing.

First responders and volunteers are going door to door, by boat and air, navigating dangerous currents to get to those who are trapped.

"It's pretty dire right now," trapped resident Jackie Mallard told ABC News. "The streets are almost like you need gondolas."

"When you can help your fellow man, you can get out there and do what you're trained to do, that's a great thing," Bill Reddon of the New York Fire Department said.

Rescue team member Sgt. Nick Muhar, from the North Carolina National Guard 1/120th battalion, evacuates a young child as the rising floodwaters from Hurricane Florence threatens his home in New Bern, N.C., on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018.
AP
Robert Simmons Jr. and his kitten "Survivor" are rescued from floodwaters after Hurricane Florence dumped several inches of rain in the area overnight, Sept. 14, 2018 in New Bern, N.C.
Andrew Carter/The News & Observer via AP

What's next

Heavy rain is expected to continue in North and South Carolina over the next few days. That will bring additional water to the already-soaked states as well as additional threats like possible landslides near the Appalachians and electrocution threats with downed power lines.

    The rain and flooding expected Saturday could double the 10 to 20 inches that have fallen so far.

    Cumberland County, North Carolina, ordered a mandatory evacuation of homes along the Cape Fear River Saturday over flooding concerns.

    The Cape Fear River in Fayetteville could crest at 62 feet -- 4 feet above major flood stage.

    Fayetteville's mayor called the potential flooding “a serious, life threatening matter” and that anyone who anyone that stays should contact next of kin because of the possible loss of life.

    Storm damage caused by high winds is seen on Ocean Avenue as the outer bands of Hurricane Florence make landfall on Sept. 14, 2018, in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
    Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images

    Flooding is even anticipated in Charlotte -- more than 200 miles inland -- as well as Fayetteville and Columbia.

    Storm surges could reach 11 feet Saturday along coastal areas, particularly between Cape Fear and Cape Hatteras.

    ABC News' Josh Hoyos, Gio Benitez, Dan Peck and Whitney Lloyd contributed to this report.

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