Charlotte North Carolina News

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) — Officials in South Carolina are reporting the state’s first fatality due to Florence, bringing the storm’s overall death toll to at least five. A 61-year-old woman was killed late Friday when the vehicle she was driving struck a tree that had fallen across Highway 18 near the town of Union. LINK: Florence poses ‘catastrophic’ flood threat; at least 7 killed Capt. Kelley Hughes of the South Carolina Highway Patrol said the woman,…

Darkness and danger spread across North Carolina on Saturday, as Florence blasted an ever-widening swath of the state with torrential rain and dangerous wind. At 3 p.m. Saturday, state officials warned that most of North Carolina will face flooding in the coming week and begged travelers to stay off the road. With stretches of interstate closed Saturday and a rolling wave of flash floods moving east to west, they said drivers could face major detours…

As Hurricane Florence, now a tropical storm, crawls through the Carolinas, our reporters and photojournalists are on the coast. Their Friday reports from the coast are here. You can follow them at @_andrewcarter, @joshshaffer08, @MarthaQuillin. @vizjourno, , , Raleigh: Interstate drivers asked to avoid N.C. 5 p.m. State officials are asking interstate travelers not to drive through North Carolina. A stretch of Interstate 95 was closed earlier Saturday and state Transportation Secretary Jim Trogdon said…

(FOX NEWS) — As Hurricane Storm Florence lashed through the Carolinas with howling winds and heavy rain, one reporter was captured attempting to keep it together as winds appeared to lash at him, but was mocked when two people were seen walking behind him with little difficulty.  The viral video, which has more than 13.6 million views, showed Weather Channel correspondent Mike Seidel in Wilmington, North Carolina, trying to fight the heavy wind as he…

MIAMI (AP/WJZY) — How do you measure a disaster like Florence? In sum, the storm is turning out to be every bit as devastating as forecasters expected, with trillions of gallons of rain still in the forecast, hundreds of people needing rescue, hundreds of thousands of power outages and a handful of deaths. The economic toll remains to be tallied. BY THE NUMBERS Storm deaths: At least 7 people have died  Heavy rains: Up to…

As Tropical Storm Florence bears down on the Carolinas, WFAE has compiled this information to help you prepare. Do you still need to prepare? Don’t know where to start? These lists can help: Here are some other resources and important numbers you’ll need for updates and information before, during and after the storm: National  National Hurricane Center: Reference for updates about the strength, location and possible impact of Florence. Advisories are released daily at 5…

As Tropical Depression Florence bears down on the Carolinas, WFAE has compiled this information to help you prepare. Do you still need to prepare? Don’t know where to start? These lists can help: Here are some other resources and important numbers you’ll need for updates and information before, during and after the storm: National  National Hurricane Center: Reference for updates about the strength, location and possible impact of Florence. Advisories are released daily at 5…

As Tropical Storm Florence spins inland, environmental regulators are monitoring more than three dozen toxic waste sites in the storm’s path, as well as scores of low-lying water- and sewage-treatment plants at risk of flooding. The Environmental Protection Agency has identified 41 Superfund sites in threatened parts of the Carolinas, Virginia and Maryland and Georgia, including polluted industrial sites, chemical plants, coastal shipyards and military bases. EPA spokesman John Konkus said the agency is listening…

CHARLOTTE (WJZY) – Communities have been devastated by Tropical Storm Florence, which still threatens to dump up to 15 inches of rain on the Carolinas. If you’re looking to make a difference, here’s how you can help those impacted by the storm. DONATE FEMA says cash donations offer the most flexibility for charities and nonprofits to address urgent needs. People are urged to not donate unsolicited goods such as used clothing, miscellaneous household items, medicine or perishable foodstuffs…

Updated: 6:45 a.m. Tropical Storm Florence is weakening but is still bringing “catastrophic” flooding across North and South Carolina, according to the latest public advisory from the National Hurricane Center.  The storm has maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour and higher gusts. The National Weather Service is warning people to stay vigilant during the storm with flash flooding expected.  Don’t be fooled – just because #Florence is now a tropical storm doesn’t mean…

Updated: 9:40 a.m. Duke Energy is reporting that more than 11,000 of its customers in Mecklenburg County are without power this morning because of Tropical Storm Florence. Duke reports 544,725 customers are without power in the Carolinas, including 11,228 in Mecklenburg County, 484,798 in all of North Carolina, and 59,747 in South Carolina. Duke also reports 613 without power in Gaston County, 600 without power in Cabarrus County, 425 without power in Union County, 56…

Updated: 11:35 a.m. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said the danger is rising for North Carolinians as Tropical Storm Florence lingers over the state.  “The flood danger is more immediate today than what it was when it made landfall just 24 hours ago,” Cooper said at a press briefing Saturday morning. “We face walls of water at our coasts, along our rivers, across farmland, in our cities and in our towns. More people now face…

Updated: 2:30 p.m. Florence is expected to weaken from a tropical storm to a depression later today while continuing to hammer the Carolinas with heavy rain and winds, according to the National Hurricane Center. In its latest public advisory, the center projects as much as 15 to 20 inches of rainfall in parts of the Charlotte region. The National Weather Service expects at most 15 inches in isolated spots near Charlotte. Rainfall totals of 30…

Updated: 4:05 p.m. North Carolina state officials urged residents to stay off the roadways because of flooding from Florence and poor conditions. “As the storm continues to move, floodwaters continue to affect primary and secondary roads and many portions of our state,” said Col. Glenn McNeill, the commander of the State Highway Patrol. “I cannot stress this enough: If you do not have to drive, then please do not. Residents who choose to drive in…