Hurricane Florence claims lives of 4, including a mother and baby

Four deaths have been confirmed as a result of Hurricane Florence, now a tropical storm.
A mother and infant were killed after a tree fell on their Wilmington home as Hurricane Florence made landfall in the Carolinas. The father was transported to a hospital for treatment, the Associated Press reported.

A third death happened in Kinston, Lenoir County officials said, when a 78-year-old man was electrocuted at a home Friday morning when he attempted to connect two extension cords outside in the rain. His body was discovered by family members.

Also in Kinston, a 77-year-old man was found dead Friday morning at his home on Middle Street. It is believed his death was caused when he was blown down by the wind when he went out to check on his hunting dogs.

“Our hearts go out to the families of those who died in this storm,” Cooper said. “Hurricane Florence is going to continue its violent grind across our state for days. Be extremely careful and stay alert.”

A death earlier reported in Pender County was later clarified as a medical emergency not directly related to Hurricane Florence.

According to Pender County Emergency Management Director Tom Collins, a woman in Hampstead died. Collins told WWAY the woman had a heart attack Friday morning. Emergency crews were unable to get to her because of a downed tree in the road.

Significant flooding was being reported Friday along the Neuse, Pamlico and Pungo rivers in coastal North Carolina because of storm surge. Those conditions were expected to worsen significantly.

“We are expecting several more days of rain,” Cooper said. “Our focus now is getting people away from immediate danger. And then it will shift to putting our communities back together.”