Governor McCrory Provides Update on Hurricane Matthew Flooding Impacts on Princeville | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: Stay connected to BCN for all of our many Hurricane Mathew updates.

Press Release:

    Raleigh, N.C.     Governor Pat McCrory provided updates on the recovery and relief efforts ongoing in the Town of Princeville and Edgecombe County in response to Hurricane Matthew flooding.

    "I'd like to let the people of Princeville know that we will be with you and we will do everything we can to help rebuild your city," said Governor McCrory. "We will also take steps to ensure that this type of disaster never happens again."

    This afternoon, the governor confirmed two additional deaths, one in Lenoir County where a driver went around a closed road barricade and drove through a washed out section of the roadway, and another in Robeson County where a pedestrian walking fell into the hole of an uprooted tree and could not escape. This brings the total number of storm-related fatalities to 22 persons.

    Governor McCrory Provides Update on Hurricane Matthew Flooding Impacts on Princeville

    The governor also announced that federal assistance is now available for residents in six counties. Jones and Gates counties are now eligible for public and individual assistance and individuals in Hyde, Dare, Duplin and Pender counties can now apply for federal assistance.

    The number of state-wide power outages continues to drop, down to 43,753 from a peak of over 800,000 on Sunday.

    After visiting Kinston earlier in the afternoon, Governor McCrory flew over the Town of Princeville, where the Tar River is currently cresting.

    The river will be in major flood stage until Saturday afternoon, and is not expected to drop below minor flood stage until Monday afternoon.

    The governor said the state has sent additional resources to Edgecombe County, including 50 National Guard troops and 25 high water vehicles.

    Edgecombe County currently has six shelters operating at full power and the American Red Cross and the Department of Social Services are on site in the shelters.

    Multiple primary and secondary roads are closed in Edgecombe County, which include:

• Two closures on NC 33 near Tarboro
• NC 97, which is closed west of Tarboro
• The northbound side of NC 111 between Chinquapin Road and the town of Princeville
• US 258 is impassable in both directions between NC 97 and NC 122 and is closed north of Tarboro between Lawrence and Princeville.
• US 64 near Tarboro is closed in both directions, and portion of US 64-Alternate near Princeville remain closed

    The governor reminded drivers to not rely on GPS devices for road closure and detour information. Call 5-1-1 or visit ReadyNC.org for the latest road closure updates.

    On Tuesday, the governor activated the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund for Hurricane Matthew to support long-term recovery efforts in partnership with the United Way of North Carolina. People or organizations that want to help ensure North Carolina recovers can visit NCdisasterrelief.org or text NCRecovers to 30306.

    For more information about hurricane recovery in your area, call 2-1-1. For more details about Hurricane Matthew impacts and relief efforts, go to ReadyNC.org. Follow N.C. Emergency Management on Twitter and Facebook for the latest on Hurricane Matthew.

• Contact: McCrory Communications
•     govpress@nc.gov