Month: October 2018

Joanne Garone Behnke has replayed every possible scenario in her mind a hundred times. Maybe her 79-year-old aunt sought shelter at the sturdy condo nearby that withstood Hurricane Michael’s devastating winds. Maybe she was rescued and is lying in a hospital bed somewhere. The pile of rubble that was once her Mexico Beach home is shallow, too shallow for a body to go unnoticed, Garone Behnke tells herself. “It’s torture,” says Garone Behnke, who last…

Tropical Storm Tara is dropping heavy rain on west-central Mexico while moving just offshore, and forecasters are warning of the danger of possible flash floods and high winds in some coastal areas. The storm that formed Monday is moving slowly off Mexico’s Pacific coast and is expected to remain close to land for the next few days. The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Tara had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 kph) Monday night….

The Latest on President Donald Trump’s visit to areas hit by Hurricane Michael (all times local): 6:30 p.m. President Donald Trump has heard from Georgia farmers whose crops were wiped out by Hurricane Michael. Trump on Monday visited a farm near Macon where fourth-generation farmer Kevin Rentz grows cotton and peanuts. Rentz said he lost 100 percent of his cotton crop. He says they’re still digging up peanuts but the problem is finding someplace to…

RALEIGH (WTVD) — North Carolina lawmakers have passed an $800 million relief package. On Monday night lawmakers passed the Florence Emergency Response Act, which will now head to Governor Roy Cooper’s office for his signature. “I appreciate legislators responding quickly and taking this initial step to help North Carolinians recover from this devastating storm, particularly in the areas of education and the federal match. However, we must continue to work together to provide more for…

By Kasey Cunnintham, WRAL reporter Raleigh, N.C. — Country music stars from North Carolina are using the release of their latest single to help with relief efforts for Hurricane Florence victims. When members of the band Parmalee saw images and videos of their home state under water, they knew they wanted to help somehow. Their desire to do something turned into their latest song, “Down Town.” Throughout their musical career, members of the band have…

The Latest on a special legislative session in North Carolina designed to approve money to help recovery in communities flooded last month by Hurricane Florence (all times local): 9 p.m. North Carolina legislators are spending $400 million to speed recovery from Hurricane Florence and setting aside another $450 million for upcoming needs, temporarily setting aside the sharp partisanship that’s typified government. Legislators on Monday approved a second emergency spending plan a month after Florence slammed…