By Sarah Lindenfeld Hall, Go Ask Mom editor Raleigh, N.C. — The Bra Patch, a locally owned professional bra fitting shop, is collecting new and gently used bras to distribute to women in Hurricane Florence-ravaged areas of eastern North Carolina. “Many people have been evacuated from their homes and have only the clothes on their backs,” wrote Ruth Dowdy, Bra Patch owner. “Unfortunately, when they do return to their homes, almost all personal belongings will…

As campaigning resumes, Democrat James Smith is using washed out roads, caused by widespread flooding spawned by Hurricane Florence, to take a swipe at Republican Gov. Henry McMaster over infrastructure funding. Both candidates earlier this week resumed their campaigns for governor, a little more than a week after suspending their election bids as Florence crept toward the S.C. coast. Smith, a Columbia state representative, restarted his campaign Tuesday, after he was released from National Guard…

Tammie Hedges was taken into custody Friday after providing care to 17 cats and 10 dogs for owners who had to evacuate before the storm hit. According to WCNC, Hedges was in the process of converting a warehouse space into a proper animal shelter when she decided to use the building to help keep pets dry. However, her facility was not legally registered as a shelter. On Monday, after Florence passed, Hedges got a call…

By Emmy Victor, WRAL reporter Spring Lake, N.C. — Sunday morning worship looks different for churchgoers in Spring Lake as they figure out what to do about storm damage. The pastor of Church of the Covenant Presbyterian says floodwaters from Florence swept through the historic building last week, and it’s not the first time the small congregation has faced costly repairs. The church, built in 1901, has now gone through two floods — Hurricane Matthew…

Jon Coleman awoke around 4:30 the morning before Hurricane Florence made landfall near Wilmington. He shined his flashlight outside of his mother’s mobile home to look at what he was afraid of: multiple pine trees swaying dangerously in the howling wind. He went to his mother’s bedroom in the back of the trailer. “Mom, I think you better get out of that bedroom and come to the front of the house,” he told her. It’s…

Firefighters wash dead fish from section of I-40 previously flooded by Florence Sep 22, 2018 Members of the Penderlea Fire Dept. use a fire hose to wash dead fish left on a portion of I-40 near Wallace, N.C. as flood waters from Hurricane Florence receded Saturday, 22, 2018. By

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Governor Roy Cooper visited Brunswick County and Columbus County Saturday as he continued his survey of areas impacted by Hurricane Florence. During his various trips, he’s met with federal, state, and local officials, as well as evacuees and volunteers. RELATED: Governor Cooper visits Lumberton to assess damage “Florence has officially claimed 32 lives in North Carolina. We don’t want to lose any more people,” said Cooper during a Saturday morning press…

Dozens of vehicles slowly approached President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Saturday afternoon, blasting reggaeton and salsa as they drove by. They honked their horns and waved Puerto Rican flags draped from their car windows and trunks. They were on their way to a rally a few miles away to mark the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Maria. Despite the scorching hot sun, hundreds of activists showed up at the Meyer Amphitheater in West…

By Ken Smith, WRAL anchor/reporter Durham, N.C. — A business owner in Durham is helping donate boats to help with water rescues in Eastern North Carolina. Branden Patrick owns NC Marine, a boat dealer. He asked Missouri-based manufacturer Lowes Boats if the company could provide some loaners for fire departments in flooded areas. Instead, Lowes Boats sent five new boats with motors and trailers and are letting the rescue crews keep them. The inventory is…

By Ken Smith, WRAL anchor/reporter The WRAL Azalea Gardens on Saturday was the setting for a wedding that was postponed by Hurricane Florence. Brittany and Dave LaFave were supposed to get married last weekend in Wilmington. They evacuated to Florida and saw the devastation Florence left behind. Brittany is from Morehead City; Dave is from Wilmington. They started looking around for a different venue and picked the WRAL Azalea Gardens. “When that storm comes through,…