The Latest: Florence expected to weaken as flood risk rises

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The Associated Press

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.

The Latest on Tropical Storm Florence (all times local):

2:06 a.m.

Tropical Storm Florence is expected to weaken into a depression soon but flash flooding and major river flooding are expected to continue over significant portions of the Carolinas.

The National Hurricane Center says excessive amounts of rain are still being dumped in North Carolina and the effect is expected to be “catastrophic.” In its 2 a.m. update Sunday, the center also says an elevated risk of landslides is now expected in western North Carolina.

Forecasters say heavy rains also are expected early in the week in parts of West Virginia and the west-central portion of Virginia. Both states also are at a risk of dangerous flash floods and river flooding.

At 2 a.m. Sunday, Florence was about 25 miles (45 kilometers) southeast of Columbia, South Carolina. It has top sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph) and is moving west at 6 mph (9 kph).

___

1:05 a.m.

North Carolina is bracing for what could be the next stage of the still-unfolding disaster: widespread, catastrophic river flooding from Florence.

After blowing ashore as a hurricane with 90 mph (145 kph) winds, Florence virtually parked itself much of the weekend atop the Carolinas as it pulled warm water from the ocean and hurled it onshore. Storm surges, flash floods and winds have spread destruction widely and the Marines, the Coast Guard and volunteers have used boats, helicopters, and heavy-duty vehicles to conduct hundreds of rescues as of Saturday.

The death toll from the hurricane-turned-tropical storm has now climbed to 11.

Rivers are swelling toward record levels, forecaster warn, and thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate for fear that the next few days could bring some of the most destructive flooding in North Carolina history.








FILE - In this Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018 file photo, Joe Gore, left, and Joshua Adcock prepare for Hurricane Florence as they board up windows on a home in Emerald Isle N.C. Before and after a hurricane, Ace is the place. And Home Depot, Lowe’s, and many other hardware and building supply outlets. Not surprisingly, these companies plan for storms such as Hurricane Florence all year.

FILE – In this Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018 file photo, Joe Gore, left, and Joshua Adcock prepare for Hurricane Florence as they board up windows on a home in Emerald Isle N.C. Before and after a hurricane, Ace is the place. And Home Depot, Lowe’s, and many other hardware and building supply outlets. Not surprisingly, these companies plan for storms such as Hurricane Florence all year.

Tom Copeland, File

AP Photo








City of New Bern crews work to clear storm damaged trees in historic New Bern, N.C., Sept. 15, 2018. Hurricane Florence brought high winds and storm surges to eastern North Carolina.

City of New Bern crews work to clear storm damaged trees in historic New Bern, N.C., Sept. 15, 2018. Hurricane Florence brought high winds and storm surges to eastern North Carolina.

Sun Journal via AP

Gray Whitley








Resident Alice Tolson steps over storm debris that washed up from the Neuse River at her home on East Front Street in New Bern, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, after Hurricane Florence sweeps over eastern North Carolina.

Resident Alice Tolson steps over storm debris that washed up from the Neuse River at her home on East Front Street in New Bern, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, after Hurricane Florence sweeps over eastern North Carolina.

Sun Journal via AP

Gray Whitley








A 40-foot yacht lies in the yard of a storm-damaged home on East Front Street in New Bern, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. The boat washed up with storm surge and debris from Hurricane Florence.

A 40-foot yacht lies in the yard of a storm-damaged home on East Front Street in New Bern, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. The boat washed up with storm surge and debris from Hurricane Florence.

Sun Journal via AP

Gray Whitley








Resident Joseph Eudi looks at flood debris and storm damage from Hurricane Florence at a home on East Front Street in New Bern, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018.

Resident Joseph Eudi looks at flood debris and storm damage from Hurricane Florence at a home on East Front Street in New Bern, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018.

Sun Journal via AP

Gray Whitley








Yuri Hickey, right, and a worker from the Red Cross point at a weather report inside a storm shelter at Ridge View High School as remnants of Florence slowly move across the East Coast Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Columbia, S.C. Hickey lives on a sailboat in Charleston and evacuated to the same shelter at Ridge View High School during Hurricane Matthew in 2016. He has also lost two sailboats during hurricanes in the Florida Keys.

Yuri Hickey, right, and a worker from the Red Cross point at a weather report inside a storm shelter at Ridge View High School as remnants of Florence slowly move across the East Coast Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Columbia, S.C. Hickey lives on a sailboat in Charleston and evacuated to the same shelter at Ridge View High School during Hurricane Matthew in 2016. He has also lost two sailboats during hurricanes in the Florida Keys.

Sean Rayford

AP Photo








New Bern firefighters check the safety of residents in a flood and wind damaged area of Johnson Street in historic New Bern, N.C., Sept. 15, 2018. Hurricane Florence brought high winds and storm surges to eastern North Carolina.

New Bern firefighters check the safety of residents in a flood and wind damaged area of Johnson Street in historic New Bern, N.C., Sept. 15, 2018. Hurricane Florence brought high winds and storm surges to eastern North Carolina.

Sun Journal via AP

Gray Whitley








A closed sign hangs from the front door of the Blue Flour bakery on Main St. in Columbia, S.C. as the remnants of Hurricane Florence slowly move across the East Coast Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018.

A closed sign hangs from the front door of the Blue Flour bakery on Main St. in Columbia, S.C. as the remnants of Hurricane Florence slowly move across the East Coast Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018.

Sean Rayford

AP Photo








A young man carries bottles of wine down the sidewalk as the remnants of Hurricane Florence slowly move across the East Coast Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Columbia, S.C.

A young man carries bottles of wine down the sidewalk as the remnants of Hurricane Florence slowly move across the East Coast Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Columbia, S.C.

Sean Rayford

AP Photo








People cross a downtown street in Columbia, S.C. as the remnants of Hurricane Florence slowly move across the East Coast Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018.

People cross a downtown street in Columbia, S.C. as the remnants of Hurricane Florence slowly move across the East Coast Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018.

Sean Rayford

AP Photo








FILE - This Feb. 19, 2014 file photo shows the L.V. Sutton Complex operated by Duke Energy from the Sutton Lake landing in Wilmington, N.C. Duke Energy says heavy rains from Florence have caused a slope to collapse at a coal ash landfill at a closed power station near the North Carolina coast. Duke spokeswoman Paige Sheehan said Saturday night, Sept. 15, 2018, that about 2,000 cubic yards of ash have been displaced at the L. V. Sutton Power Station outside Wilmington.

FILE – This Feb. 19, 2014 file photo shows the L.V. Sutton Complex operated by Duke Energy from the Sutton Lake landing in Wilmington, N.C. Duke Energy says heavy rains from Florence have caused a slope to collapse at a coal ash landfill at a closed power station near the North Carolina coast. Duke spokeswoman Paige Sheehan said Saturday night, Sept. 15, 2018, that about 2,000 cubic yards of ash have been displaced at the L. V. Sutton Power Station outside Wilmington.

Randall Hill, File

AP Photo








FILE - This Feb. 19, 2014 file photo, shows the L.V. Sutton Complex operated by Duke Energy just outside of Wilmington, N.C. Duke Energy says heavy rains from Florence have caused a slope to collapse at a coal ash landfill at a closed power station near the North Carolina coast. Duke spokeswoman Paige Sheehan said Saturday night, Sept. 15, 2018, that about 2,000 cubic yards of ash have been displaced at the L. V. Sutton Power Station.

FILE – This Feb. 19, 2014 file photo, shows the L.V. Sutton Complex operated by Duke Energy just outside of Wilmington, N.C. Duke Energy says heavy rains from Florence have caused a slope to collapse at a coal ash landfill at a closed power station near the North Carolina coast. Duke spokeswoman Paige Sheehan said Saturday night, Sept. 15, 2018, that about 2,000 cubic yards of ash have been displaced at the L. V. Sutton Power Station.

Randall Hill, File

AP Photo








FILE - In this Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 file photo, a man jogs down the boardwalk by the Cape Fear River in downtown Wilmington, N.C., as Hurricane Florence threatens the coast. Record flooding is expected on Cape Fear River in the coming week, and signs of the coming flood are already apparent. The Cape Fear River is predicted to crest at 62 feet (nearly 19 meters) in Fayetteville on Tuesday, Sept. 18.

FILE – In this Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 file photo, a man jogs down the boardwalk by the Cape Fear River in downtown Wilmington, N.C., as Hurricane Florence threatens the coast. Record flooding is expected on Cape Fear River in the coming week, and signs of the coming flood are already apparent. The Cape Fear River is predicted to crest at 62 feet (nearly 19 meters) in Fayetteville on Tuesday, Sept. 18.

Chuck Burton, File

AP Photo








Craig Camara, a volunteer North Shore Animal League, holds a puppy that was rescued from a shelter in one of the three states in the path of Hurricane Florence, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018 in Port Washington, N.Y.

Craig Camara, a volunteer North Shore Animal League, holds a puppy that was rescued from a shelter in one of the three states in the path of Hurricane Florence, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018 in Port Washington, N.Y.

Julie Walker

AP Photo








FILE - In this June 23, 2014 file photo, the dried-up bed of an inactive coal ash pond is seen at Duke Energy’s Sutton plant in Wilmington, N.C. Duke Energy says heavy rains from Florence have caused a slope to collapse at a coal ash landfill at a closed power station near the North Carolina coast. Duke spokeswoman Paige Sheehan said Saturday night, Sept. 15, 2018, that about 2,000 cubic yards of ash have been displaced at the L. V. Sutton Power Station outside Wilmington.

FILE – In this June 23, 2014 file photo, the dried-up bed of an inactive coal ash pond is seen at Duke Energy’s Sutton plant in Wilmington, N.C. Duke Energy says heavy rains from Florence have caused a slope to collapse at a coal ash landfill at a closed power station near the North Carolina coast. Duke spokeswoman Paige Sheehan said Saturday night, Sept. 15, 2018, that about 2,000 cubic yards of ash have been displaced at the L. V. Sutton Power Station outside Wilmington.

The Star-News via AP

Mike Spencer








A special announcement for “Hurricane Hours” is displayed on a shop window as the remnants of Hurricane Florence slowly move across the East Coast Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Columbia, S.C.

A special announcement for “Hurricane Hours” is displayed on a shop window as the remnants of Hurricane Florence slowly move across the East Coast Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Columbia, S.C.

Sean Rayford

AP Photo








FILE - In this Monday, Sept. 10, 2018 file photo, Jim Craig, David Burke and Chris Rayner load generators as people buy supplies at The Home Depot in Wilmington, N.C. “It’s a year-round thing for us,” said Margaret Smith, spokeswoman for Atlanta-based Home Depot. “When it’s hurricane season, we are operating 24 hours a day.”

FILE – In this Monday, Sept. 10, 2018 file photo, Jim Craig, David Burke and Chris Rayner load generators as people buy supplies at The Home Depot in Wilmington, N.C. “It’s a year-round thing for us,” said Margaret Smith, spokeswoman for Atlanta-based Home Depot. “When it’s hurricane season, we are operating 24 hours a day.”

The Star-News via AP, File

Ken Blevins








FILE - In this Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018 file photo, people line up outside a Home Depot for a new supply of generators and plywood in advance of Hurricane Florence in Wilmington, N.C. “It’s a year-round thing for us,” said Margaret Smith, spokeswoman for Atlanta-based Home Depot. “When it’s hurricane season, we are operating 24 hours a day.”

FILE – In this Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018 file photo, people line up outside a Home Depot for a new supply of generators and plywood in advance of Hurricane Florence in Wilmington, N.C. “It’s a year-round thing for us,” said Margaret Smith, spokeswoman for Atlanta-based Home Depot. “When it’s hurricane season, we are operating 24 hours a day.”

Chuck Burton, File

AP Photo








Rain-soaked furniture store workers load boxes into a truck, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Fayetteville, N.C., less than a mile from the Cape Fear River, which is set to crest at 62 feet early Tuesday. When John Rose who owns a furniture business heard about possible flooding, he quickly moved to have a crew empty more than 1,000 mattresses from a warehouse located in a low-lying strip mall threatened by the coming surge of water.

Rain-soaked furniture store workers load boxes into a truck, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Fayetteville, N.C., less than a mile from the Cape Fear River, which is set to crest at 62 feet early Tuesday. When John Rose who owns a furniture business heard about possible flooding, he quickly moved to have a crew empty more than 1,000 mattresses from a warehouse located in a low-lying strip mall threatened by the coming surge of water.

Alex Derosier

AP Photo








In this Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018 photo, Manager Tom Roberts watches as an employee positions a pallet of mulch to protect the Ace Hardware store from Hurricane Florence in Calabash, N.C. Roberts still had supplies like bottled water, but went ahead and closed so his employees could prepare their homes.

In this Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018 photo, Manager Tom Roberts watches as an employee positions a pallet of mulch to protect the Ace Hardware store from Hurricane Florence in Calabash, N.C. Roberts still had supplies like bottled water, but went ahead and closed so his employees could prepare their homes.

Jeffrey Collins

AP Photo