Congress considering nearly $1.7B Florence relief package

WASHINGTON — Congress is starting to consider almost $1.7 billion in new money to aid recovery efforts from Florence.Lawmakers already are facing a deadline this week to fund the government before the start of the new budget year Oct. 1, and members of Congress will try to act on the disaster relief along with separate legislation to fund the government.The chairman of the House Appropriations Committee says the money would be available as grants to states to help rebuild housing and public works, and assist businesses as they recover from the storm.GOP Rep.

Soldier returns from Hurricane Florence relief efforts, finds home ransacked

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A North Carolina soldier returned home after helping with the Hurricane Florence relief effort to find his home had been robbed.Multiple media outlets report that National Guardsman Luis Ocampo was working in storm-battered New Bern for 10 days and found his Charlotte home ransacked when he returned Friday.Ocampo said he found everything of value had been stolen, including a large TV, gaming system and a laptop with Ocampo's schoolwork on it.

New evacuations ordered because of Florence flooding

WILMINGTON, N.C. — A new round of evacuations was ordered in South Carolina as the trillions of gallons of water dumped by Hurricane Florence meanders to the sea, raising river levels and threatening more destruction.With the crisis slowly moving to South Carolina, emergency managers on Friday ordered about 500 people to flee homes along the Lynches River.

Woman watches sister's rescue from Hurricane Florence on North Carolina newscast

GREENSBORO, NC – A North Carolina woman got the shock of her life while watching coverage of Hurricane Florence on WGHP.Sandy Gil said she saw video of her sister, Cindy, getting rescued during a newscast.Sandy sat down at her computer Monday after trying to get updates on the weather at the coast.

President Trump visits North Carolina as governor pleads for patience

WILMINGTON, N.C. — Eager to show heart in a moment of crisis, President Donald Trump handed out hot dogs, hugs and comforting words in the Carolinas on Wednesday as he surveyed the wreckage left by Hurricane Florence.With residents still recovering from torrential rains that left widespread destruction and injury, President Trump sought to strike a balance between comforter and cheerleader, mindful that he has been criticized in the past for not showing sufficient empathy in the face of tragedy.During a packed day, he visited both North and South Carolina, distributed meals at a church, walked amid piles of sodden furniture in damaged neighborhoods, offered hugs and handshakes to residents and discussed the response efforts with local and state officials."America grieves with you and our hearts break for you.

Animals stranded by Hurricane Florence headed to Ohio

Elyria, Ohio - Animals stranded by Hurricane Florence are being rescued from catastrophic flooding in the Carolinas and evacuated to Northeast Ohio, according to WJW.Six dogs arrived over the weekend at the Friendship Animal Protective League in Elyria, Ohio, just west of Cleveland.Volunteers were ready and waiting for the new arrivals and have been showering them with love, trying to make them feel as comfortable as possible.“The thing with animals, they don’t understand why people are leaving.

Florence death toll swells to 17; flooding fears surge as rivers rise

NEW BERN, N.C. — The death toll from Hurricane Florence and its remnants has risen to 17 as officials say a 3-month-old died in North Carolina when a tree landed on a mobile home.Catastrophic flooding from Florence spread across the Carolinas on Sunday, with roads to Wilmington cut off by the epic deluge and muddy river water swamping entire neighborhoods miles inland. "The risk to life is rising with the angry waters," Gov.

Death toll rises to 11 as Florence pours on the rain

NEW BERN, N.C. — The Marines, the Coast Guard, civilian crews and volunteers used helicopters, boats and heavy-duty vehicles Saturday to rescue hundreds of people trapped by Florence's shoreline onslaught, even as North Carolina braced for what could be the next stage of the disaster: widespread, catastrophic flooding inland.The death toll from the hurricane-turned-tropical storm climbed to 11.A day after blowing ashore with 90 mph (145 kph) winds, Florence practically parked itself over land all day long and poured on the rain.

Florence rolls ashore in Carolinas, tears buildings apart

WILMINGTON, N.C. — Hurricane Florence lumbered ashore in North Carolina with howling 90 mph winds and terrifying storm surge early Friday, ripping apart buildings and knocking out power to a half-million homes and businesses as it settled in for what could be a long and extraordinarily destructive drenching.More than 60 people had to be pulled from a collapsing motel at the height of the storm.