NEW YORK (AP) – The number of Americans with flood insurance is on the rise, yet Hurricane Florence is likely to make it painfully clear that too many homeowners in the Carolinas and other vulnerable regions remain unprotected. Florence came ashore in the Carolinas Friday and its storm surges, flash floods and winds scattered destruction widely. Federal data show there were roughly 5.1 million active flood insurance policies in the U.S. as of July 31,…

This story was updated at 8:20 a.m. ET At least 14 people have died in North Carolina and South Carolina as a result of Florence, and officials are warning of danger ahead as river levels continue to swell with heavy rainfall from the storm. Florence was downgraded to a tropical depression early Sunday morning, and gained speed to 8 mph as it moved west with sustained winds of 35 mph, as of the National Hurricane…

MIAMI (AP) – A heavy-duty response already is slogging through heavy rains and floodwaters to help people trapped or displaced by Florence’s watery onslaught. Storm winds might be dropping, but rivers are rising and the next few days could bring the most destructive round of flooding in North Carolina history. BY THE NUMBERS Storm deaths: At least 11 people have died Heavy rains: Nearly 31 inches of rain was reported in Swansboro, on the North Carolina…

Updated: 5:45 p.m. In the latest forecast, Florence will continue to bring heavy rain across most of North Carolina and eastern South Carolina, while flash flood warnings will remain in effect through the evening in the Charlotte region. “There’s still a potential that heavy rain will redevelop this evening,” said Jake Wimberley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, who was remarking on the Charlotte region. “There’s some bands containing some heavier downpours, maybe a…

Updated: 1:10 p.m. There have been 750,000 to 1 million evacuations in North Carolina, according Gov. Roy Cooper. The governor said that number is expected to increase as mandatory evacuation notices are enacted around rivers that continue to rise. In a Sunday afternoon press conference, Cooper said recovery teams have rescued close to 900 people. There are nine Coast Guard helicopters and dozens of Coast Guard boats continuing to rescue people in the eastern part…

Updated: 6 a.m. Florence has been downgraded to a Tropical Depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 miles per hour. The storm continues to wreak havoc on the Carolinas with heavy rainfall in the region. There are flash flood warnings in place for much of the state, including southern North Carolina, the Charlotte region and northern South Carolina. An additional 4 to 6 inches of rainfall, with as much 8 inches in some spots, will…

[  ] Hide Caption [  ] Show Caption Marines with Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune help push a car out of a flooded area during Hurricane Florence, on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Sept. 15, 2018. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Marine Corps/Lance Cpl. Isaiah Gomez) [  ] Hide Caption [  ] Show Caption A tree collapsed on the Paradise Point houses during Hurricane Florence on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sept. 15, 2018. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Marine…