North Carolina raised its death toll to hurricane Matthew to 30 as floodwaters continued to rise along the state’s coast from heavy rains, which dumped up to 16 inches in some places.
In Greenville, officials warned that the Tar River would overwhelm every bridge in the county, splitting the county in half before the river crests late Wednesday on October 12 (four days after the storm).
Florida raised its death count to eight, while Haiti’s death count soared to over 1000. The winds of the category four storm in Haiti flattened houses and destroyed 90% of the southern region. An estimated 350,000 people need help. Some towns were not accessible except by helicopter. Haiti has never fully recovered from the earthquake in 2010. Meanwhile, four people died in neighboring Dominican Republic.
At least three rivers were predicted to reach record levels in North Carolina, some not cresting until Friday, October 14. Thousands of homes have been damaged in North Carolina and Florida, while a dam in North Carolina was in danger of a breach. Also a levee breached endangering 1500 people. Many homes were without power for extended periods of time. There was no food, water or gasoline for sale.
The Rev. Volley Hanson worried that stress from the lack of running water and electricity might push people over the edge. Robeson County, which includes hard hit Lumberton, had North Carolina’s highest violent crime rate in 2014. “The cash is going to be running out. We’ve already got street vendors hawking water, Cokes and cigarettes. Cigarettes are at seven bucks a pack,” Hanson said. “Its nuts here, and it’s going to get worse.”
So much water was dumped on the region that the Lumber River crested 4 feet above its record level Sunday the 9th of October in Lumberton and was expected to remain above the record for a week. The Cape River was 26 feet above flood stage. South Carolina’s rivers reached or exceeded flood stage too.
“In the tiny town of Nichols, South Carolina, downstream from Lumberton, at least 100 people spent the night on the third floor of the town hall waiting to be rescued.”
“Interstate 95 — a major artery for the East Coast — was closed in Lumberton and engineers didn’t know when it would reopen. Driving was difficult, if not impossible because hundreds of roads were closed, in some cases isolating entire towns. Dozens of school districts and colleges canceled classes for the entire week.
“Authorities in Georgia and South Carolina warned residents in coastal areas that it may take days or even weeks to restore electricity and clean up the debris. People grew increasingly frustrated when they were blocked from returning home by authorities who said the damage was still too severe.”
The region in North Carolina was already water logged from September’s heavy rainfall. Many coastal areas got twice their normal rainfall partly because of tropical storm Julia that was parked off the coast for several days.
“Everything in the world is in agitation. The signs of the times are ominous. Coming events cast their shadows before. The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the earth, and calamity follows calamity by sea and by land. There are tempests, earthquakes, fires, floods, murders of every grade. Who can read the future? Where is security? There is assurance in nothing that is human or earthly. Rapidly are men ranging themselves under the banner they have chosen. Restlessly are they waiting and watching the movements of their leaders. There are those who are waiting and watching and working for our Lord’s appearing. Another class are falling into line under the generalship of the first great apostate. Few believe with heart and soul that we have a hell to shun and a heaven to win.” Desire of Ages, page 636.