2 dead, 17 unaccounted for after Fred floods western North Carolina

LET’S TURN BKAC TO YESTERDAY’S SEVERE WEATHER AT LEAST THREE TORNADOES CONFIRMED IN SOUTH CAROLINA AS WE’VE TOLD YOU. AND SOME SEVERE FLOODING IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA ASHE T REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM FRED SWEPT THROUGH YESTERDAY. OUR TAGGART HUG JOINS US LIVE IN LOCAL IN WAYNESVILLE AND TANK 30 PEOPLE IN HAYODWO COUNTY STILL ON ACCOUNTED FOR THERE AFTER THE FLOODING. YEAH, CAROL AND SOME HELP COMING FROM OUTSIDE COUNTIES. WE CAN TELL YOU SOME HOMES IN THIS AREA HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. WE TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE MOBILE HOMES. THEY’VE BNEE LIFTED OFF OF THE FOUNDATIONS. AS THE SEARCH CONTINUES FOR THOSE MISSING. SKY4 SHOWING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE ACRO SS SECTIONS OF HAYWOOD COUNTY WE HAVE BEEN SEARCHING ABANDONED VEHICLES. HOMES BUILDINGS FOR SURVIVORS AND WE’LL CONTINUE. SEARCH SURE THAT EVERY COMMUNITY MEMBER. IS LOCATED OR AT LEAST COUNTED FOR MY TEAM HAS BEEN OUT HERE SURVEYING THIS WE’VE SENT A LETTER TO PRESIDENT BIDEN URGING HIM TO PLAYERS SAVE EMERGENCY SO FUNDING TO THESE AFFECTED COUNTIES WHO HAVE BEEN HURT. SO BADLY THE PIGEON RIVER PEAKING AT MORE THAN 19 AND A HALF FEET YESTERDAY CHECKPOINTS SET UP OFFICERS ONLY LETTING IN LOCAL TRAFFIC. NO CELL SERVICE IN CRUSOE REMNANTS OF THE DESTRUCTION THIS CAR IN THE RIVER BEHIND NATHAN YARBROUGH’S HOME. IT HAPPENED IN A MATTER OF ABOUT. FIVE MINUTES THE WATER WENT FROM STJU A NORMAL FLOOD TO WHERE IT WAS FOUR FEET ON THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE CONGREGATION AT BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH LOADING UP DELIVERING FOOD TO PEOPLE IN NEED EVEN AFTER HAVING 13 FEET OF WATER. NEBYAR SCHOOL BUILDING. THAT’S WHAT HUMANITY IS ABOUT. RIGHT? IT’S LIKE WHEN WHEN THE WORST OF THE WORST HAPPENS. WE HAVE TO BE THERE FOR EACH OTHER AND THAT’S WHAT THE LORD DID FOR US JESUS, YOU KNOW WHEN WE WERE AT A PLACE WE COULDN’T HELP OURSELVES. HE CAME TO RESCUE US. SO WE JUST WANT TO HELP IN ANY SMALL WAY THAT WE CAN. ISTH AFTERNOON GOVERNOR COOPER HAS DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY. WE DO HAVE TO SAY THOUGH. THERE’S SOME CONCERN A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT BE OUT OF THE WOODS YET IF YOU LOOK AT THE FORECAST, THERE’S A CHANCE OF RAIN REALLY FOR THE NEXT WEEK A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY BRACING FOR WHAT THAT COULD MEAN AS A RESULT OF POTENTIAL FLOODING. WHERE THEY ARE FOR

Two people were found dead and 17 remain unaccounted for after flooding in Haywood County, North Carolina, as Fred moved through the area.The names of those found dead have not been released. Those two people died from drowning when the storm swamped or washed away homes and roads in the western region of the state, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said.Cooper toured the area Thursday, saying the number of those unaccounted has "fluctuated.""We know that the search and rescue efforts are not stopping until we know where people are or we've been able to find somebody," Cooper said.Officials say 200 searchers were out Thursday searching home to home along the Pigeon River, clearing areas and making preliminary assessments of damage.They said ground, aerial drone and swift water rescue teams are continuing intensive search efforts.Sen. Thom Tillis also joined Haywood County officials to tour flood-damaged areas.There is significant damage to roads and bridges, especially in Cruso, with at least 10-15 bridges damaged or destroyed, officials said.Residents hoping to access active search areas are being asked to present identification before entering restricted areas.Engineering teams will be arriving to work on assessing damage and constructing temporary bridges.Flash flood watches will remain for areas in northeastern North Carolina, including Gates, Hertford and Northampton, according to the National Weather Service.Heavy rain drove the flooding in Haywood County, and some parts of western North Carolina received more than 10 inches from Sunday through Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.Rain exceeded 5 inches from Monday evening to Tuesday evening alone in the Haywood County community of Canton, according to the weather service, raising the Pigeon River to more than 9 feet above flood stage and the highest level since 2004.The swelling water levels prompted officials to begin evacuating residents on Tuesday."As the water level began to rise, a whole lot faster than I have ever saw it rise here in our county, we soon started to have to rescue people from their homes and provide additional assistance to our residents, and to our fire departments," Sheriff Greg Christopher said.An emergency shelter at Tuscola High School was housing 11 people as of Thursday. A new helpline is also in place for anyone seeking assistance related to the storm.CNN contributed to this report.

HAYWOOD COUNTY, N.C. —

Two people were found dead and 17 remain unaccounted for after flooding in Haywood County, North Carolina, as Fred moved through the area.

The names of those found dead have not been released.

Those two people died from drowning when the storm swamped or washed away homes and roads in the western region of the state, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said.

Cooper toured the area Thursday, saying the number of those unaccounted has "fluctuated."

"We know that the search and rescue efforts are not stopping until we know where people are or we've been able to find somebody," Cooper said.

Officials say 200 searchers were out Thursday searching home to home along the Pigeon River, clearing areas and making preliminary assessments of damage.

They said ground, aerial drone and swift water rescue teams are continuing intensive search efforts.

Sen. Thom Tillis also joined Haywood County officials to tour flood-damaged areas.

Flooding damage in western North Carolina on US 276

Smoky Mountain News/Scott McLeod

U.S. 276 near the Cruso Community Center Wednesday morning following the massive floodwaters Tuessday night

There is significant damage to roads and bridges, especially in Cruso, with at least 10-15 bridges damaged or destroyed, officials said.

Residents hoping to access active search areas are being asked to present identification before entering restricted areas.

Engineering teams will be arriving to work on assessing damage and constructing temporary bridges.

Flash flood watches will remain for areas in northeastern North Carolina, including Gates, Hertford and Northampton, according to the National Weather Service.

Heavy rain drove the flooding in Haywood County, and some parts of western North Carolina received more than 10 inches from Sunday through Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.

Rain exceeded 5 inches from Monday evening to Tuesday evening alone in the Haywood County community of Canton, according to the weather service, raising the Pigeon River to more than 9 feet above flood stage and the highest level since 2004.

Flooding damage in WNC to Thompson Road Bridge

Smoky Mountain News/Scott McLeod

The Max Thompson Road bridge Wednesday morning in Bethel following the massive floodwaters Tuesday night

The swelling water levels prompted officials to begin evacuating residents on Tuesday.

"As the water level began to rise, a whole lot faster than I have ever saw it rise here in our county, we soon started to have to rescue people from their homes and provide additional assistance to our residents, and to our fire departments," Sheriff Greg Christopher said.

An emergency shelter at Tuscola High School was housing 11 people as of Thursday. A new helpline is also in place for anyone seeking assistance related to the storm.

CNN contributed to this report.

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