McCrory: Storm-related death toll now at 26 in North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. — Floodwaters as high as some rooflines swamped one of the country's oldest towns chartered by African-Americans, setting up a daunting rebuilding effort for the second time in less than 20 years.

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory toured the flood damage Friday in Edgecombe County, which is the latest stop as he tours areas hard hit by flooding resulting from Hurricane Matthew.

McCrory announced Saturday that there were two more storm-related deaths, raising the death toll to 26 in the state.

The governor confirmed the two additional deaths, a 53 year-old man in Cumberland County, and a 47-year old woman in Wayne County, who both succumbed after their vehicles were submerged in flood waters.

Click PLAY to watch Gov. McCrory's Saturday morning press briefing:

The governor also announced that two healthy babies had been successfully delivered in a mobile hospital unit. He thanked members of Med 1 Mobile Hospital of Charlotte, which is currently located at Southeastern Medical Center in Lumberton, for their assistance in the deliveries.

Flood levels continue to drop in many areas, but it will be several days before some communities see water levels begin to return to normal.

The Lumber River is receding throughout Robeson County, but is not expected to drop below major flood stage until Monday afternoon. The Neuse River at Goldsboro reached record levels this week and is not expected to drop below major flood stage until Sunday evening.

The Neuse River at Kinston also reached record high levels and is not expected to drop below major flood stage until late Wednesday.

The Tar River is expected to drop below major flood stage at Tarboro by Saturday evening, but it is not expected to drop below major flood stage in Greenville until Tuesday morning.

The number of statewide power outages is down to 13,366 from a peak of over 800,000 on Sunday. A majority of these, approximately 12,000, are located in Robeson County.

There have been 2,333 water rescues to date, but there were no rescues reported overnight.

Over 660 roads remain closed through central and eastern North Carolina due to damage or flooding. The governor reminded drivers not to rely on GPS devices for road closure and detour information.

McCrory also said that officials are continuing to work with FEMA to develop temporary housing solutions to those who have been impacted. Since the state received its disaster declaration Monday, the federal government has dispersed nearly $9 million to disaster survivors through the Individual Assistance Program.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved North Carolina’s request for a hot meal waiver in all 100 counties, allowing Food and Nutrition Services recipients to purchase hot meals prepared for immediate consumption from authorized Electronic Benefits Transfer retailers.

The governor warned citizens to be on the lookout for fraudulent activity and scam operators and that the State Bureau of Investigation will pursue criminal charges. He also warned citizens to verify the license of any contractor prior to hiring and to only give money to credible relief efforts.

On Friday, McCrory met with Princeville residents and town officials to pledge support after flooding spawned by Hurricane Matthew. The town was also inundated in 1999 after Hurricane Floyd.

McCrory said that with water as deep as 10 feet in the town of 2,000 people, at least eight out of 10 houses have been damaged.

"I'd say about 80 to 90 percent have definite water to the floors, to the windows, including the mayor's," he said.

The governor said National Guard troops have been sent to Princeville to prevent looting. The river has crested, but residents haven't been allowed to return.

"The thing that's so disconcerting to me ... is that a lot of these people who lost everything had very little to begin with," he said. "We're going to do everything we can to help them."

The county is among about two dozen in the state where residents are eligible for FEMA disaster aid.

Upstream, flooding has eased in some communities. Yet for other cities, such as Kinston and Greenville to the south and east, more days of flooding are expected.

Wilmington, near where the Cape Fear River meets the coast, is bracing for downtown flooding this weekend.

North Carolina officials said late Friday that they were looking into a "possible coal ash release" at a Duke Energy plant in Wayne County. The H.F. Lee plant is near the Neuse River, one of the waterways overflowing from torrential rains during Matthew.

Duke Energy released a statement saying floodwater rose over inactive basins covered in shrubs, trees and other plants. The company said some coal ash was carried away by floodwater, but testing in the river nearby didn't show measurable coal ash constituents.

Matthew killed more than 500 people in Haiti and has left at least 41 dead in the U.S. North Carolina's death toll grew to 24 and South Carolina reported an additional death Friday, the fifth fatality in the state.

For Princeville, the flooding is a sad replay of Hurricane Floyd's aftermath in September 1999, when floodwaters rose as high as 20 feet in the town.

This time, water flowed around the town's rebuilt dike. Princeville's is one of the country's first towns created by freed slaves in 1865.

Since Matthew struck, Princeville resident Lynn McLean said she's been staying in a motel and an outreach center in a nearby town with her children ages 15, 13, 12 and 9. They live in public housing near the Tar River.

"Well the thought of starting over and not knowing how or when things are going to change and be better for us is heartbreaking," the 45-year-old mother said. "I mean, we know people are going to help, but they can only help so much."

Saying she doesn't work or have insurance to cover flood losses, she doesn't know how she will replace furniture, clothing and other belongings: "I have no clue."

Floods impact Kinston businesses

Flooding is expected to continue for days in Kinston after Hurricane Matthew whipped through the town nearly a week ago.

"This is bad,” Tammy Kelly, with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, said. "It's the worst that it's ever been."

The Neuse river is about 20 feet higher than normal, a record level.

Businesses in the area have been severely impacted by the flooding.

"I've been in barbering since 1997, and this is the lowest week I ever have had in this profession," Reginald Wooten said.

He said business dropped 90 percent between the hurricane that created all the water and kept everyone at home, and the flooding that made it hard for customers to get to him.

"Normally, the shop is packed on Friday,” Wooten said. “There have only been about two or three people here all day."

He hopes the waters stop rising, but he had sandbags ready just in case.

The mayor of Kinston said residents are resilient, and they will help businesses recoup their losses.

McCrory pledges aid to flooded historic town

In North Carolina, where flooding along rivers has eased enough for some residents to start returning to their homes, the governor has pledged help rebuild one of the hard-hit historic towns.

Gov. Pat McCrory on Thursday made an aerial tour of Princeville, one of the country's oldest towns charted by African-Americans.

The town overrun by floodwaters created by Hurricane Matthew was also inundated in 1999 during Hurricane Floyd.

The governor said National Guard troops have been sent to Princeville with high-water vehicles to ensure no one loots stores or steals from vacant homes.

"I want to let them know we will be with you, and we'll do everything we can to help you rebuild this city," McCrory said. "And also, steps need to be taken where this won't happen again in the future."

McCrory said the flooding may be worse than what's occurring to the south in Lumberton.

The flooding triggered by heavy rain from Matthew — which killed more than 500 people in Haiti — has left at least 38 dead in the U.S.

McCrory said the number of statewide power outages continues to drop, down to about 44,000 from a peak of more than 800,000 Sunday. He reported the state's death toll climbed to 22.

But McCrory said flooding continues to be a major problem in poor areas in the eastern part of the state.

"It's a surreal experience to see this on a sunshiny day," McCrory said.

Floyd roared ashore on Sept. 15, 1999, not long after another hurricane saturated the state. Two days later, the rising Tar River engulfed Princeville in water 20 feet deep near the town hall.

Princeville's history as one of the country's first towns created by freed slaves in 1865 helped boost a rebuilding effort. The Federal Emergency Management Agency gave $26 million to Princeville's residents and another $1.5 million to the town.

North Carolina investigates possible coal ash spill

North Carolina officials say Hurricane Matthew has caused erosion at an inactive coal ash basin, and they're investigating whether any has been released.

The Department of Environmental Quality issued a news release saying that Duke Energy notified it Friday of the erosion and a "possible coal ash release" at the plant near Goldsboro in Wayne County. The H.F. Lee plant is near the Neuse River, one of the rivers overflowing from torrential rains during Matthew.

State investigators are going to the site Saturday to determine if any coal ash spilled. Department spokesman Mike Rusher said he would not speculate as to whether coal ash was discharged until a team can investigate.

Rusher said the basin isn't in use and has been covered by soil and trees.

A Duke Energy spokeswoman said the company was preparing a statement.

Pender County near Wilmington suffers flooding

Officials in Pender County northwest of Wilmington, North Carolina, say the flooding after Hurricane Matthew is among the worst the county has had in many years.

Pender County Manager Randall Woodruff flew over the area Thursday and could see some homes where only rooftops were visible from the waterline.

FEMA announced Friday homeowners, renters and business owners in Pender County are allowed to apply for federal disaster assistance for Hurricane Matthew damages and losses. The agency also announced Dare, Duplin, Hyde and Jones counties were added to the list of counties designated for disaster assistance.

More than 200 homes have been affected by the flooding from the Black River and Northeast Cape Fear River.

Officials say some people refused to evacuate Thursday even though the area has been without electricity.

The flooding could affect downtown Wilmington and riverside roads in New Hanover County this weekend.

A swift water rapids team from Charlotte and teams from Greensboro and Brunswick County were helping agencies on the ground Thursday in Pender County. A state team was working to rescue stranded animals.

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Associated Press