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Yadkin River At Elkin Crests Below Flood Predictions, Monitoring Continues
Emergency officials are breathing a sigh of relief after the Yadkin River crested below anticipated flood levels.
The Yadkin crested around 5 a.m. on Monday at 17.8 feet in Elkin. The river is slowly going down, and the National Guard has demobilized out of the area.
Chris Bolden, the Operations Manager for Yadkin County Emergency Services, says they will continue to monitor the river for any changes.
Yadkin County Emergency Services says people should stay off the river for several days because of the debris and high water.
Triad Shelters Absorb Overflow Of Florence Evacuees
As of Sunday, more than 17,000 people had sought refuge from Florence in nearly 140 Red Cross and community shelters across North Carolina. With life-threatening flooding continuing in the Carolinas, the Red Cross and other non-profit organizations are actively seeking additional donations to keep the help flowing.
As shelters across the state begin to consolidate, there's a need for more space, and it shows at the Joel Coliseum shelter in Winston-Salem. On Friday, the area was a sea of calm as evacuees trickled in from eastern parts of the state. By Monday morning, it was buzzing with activity as new arrivals began registering in the lobby there.
Acting Director of Red Cross Operations Steve Wise says that inland shelter locations like this one are absorbing some of the overflow.
The original 1,000-cot capacity has since been scaled back to 600 as people bring more belongings with them, which has generated the need for additional storage space. The activity level is high with about 30 Red Cross volunteers directing traffic and answering questions.
Homeland Security Official Visits North Carolina
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen visited North Carolina Monday to deliver an update on federal assistance after Hurricane Florence pounded the coast.
Nielsen says she's been keeping President Donald Trump updated on Florence's damage, and says her department has been cooperating closely with the state.
At a press event in Raleigh, Nielsen urged residents to stay safe.
Nielsen says there are currently about 300 Federal Emergency Management officials in North Carolina.
More North Carolina Counties Qualify For Federal Aid
More North Carolina counties have qualified for federal disaster aid for their homeowners, renters and businesses reeling from Hurricane Florence damage.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced late Monday that 10 additional counties have been designated for individual assistance, bringing the total to 18 counties damaged by the storm overall as qualifying for such assistance.
Residents and businesses that have damage should file insurance claims first before applying for government assistance. The aid could include grants or low-interest loans.
The new counties designated Monday are Bladen, Columbus, Cumberland, Duplin, Harnett, Lenoir, Jones, Robeson, Sampson and Wayne counties.
Duke, UNC Collecting Donations For Hurricane Florence Relief
Duke and The University of North Carolina will collect donations starting Tuesday for areas of the state affected by Hurricane Florence.
UNC will collect requested items such as nonperishable food, water and cleaning supplies in a parking lot near the Smith Center from Tuesday through noon Friday. UNC football coach Larry Fedora said Monday the program's equipment truck would deliver donations.
Duke will allow fans to buy a $5 general admission ticket for next month's game against Virginia for every three items donated from the list of requested contributions by Sept. 29.
The Red Cross is operating shelters at UNC's Friday Center and Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem, where Wake Forest plays home basketball games.
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