N. Carolina Begins Drying Out
Finally, flood-weary folks in North Carolina can look up to dry skies.
The wet weather that's been blanketing eastern parts of the state started tapering off Thursday, providing a much needed dry day. It started out with a chill in the air, but temperatures warmed nicely under sunny skies, which should stay that way through Monday.
About nine inches of rain have fallen in flood-ravaged areas in the last few days. That's on top of the 20 inches from Hurricane Floyd two weeks ago.
The new rain flooded more streets and homes, and forced hundreds more families to evacuate, reports CBS News Correspondent Jennifer Jones.
In Walnut Creek, a temporary dam, built after Floyd, didn't even last a week.
Seven Springs is a tiny town with a big problem, reports CBS News Correspondent Jim Axelrod. Like others across eastern North Carolina, the 200 or so people who live there are struggling with life after floods.
Like so many others, the mayor of Seven Springs' home is nearly destroyed. All she wants now is word from someone or somewhere that her small town won't be ignored.
"We haven't had anybody come and say, 'We'll help you, don't worry. We'll help you.' Nobody has done that yet," said Mayor Jewell Kilpatrick.
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| Rising flood waters in North Carolina |
Nearly every home, every business and every building is caked in mud and bruised by sadness.
"I've been here 67 years. I was born in this town and there has never been anything like this before," said Kilpatrick.
Floyd is expected to surpass Hurricane Fran's $6 billion cost in 1996 as the state's costliest natural disaster. Blamed for at least 47 deaths, its floodwaters destroyed or heavily damaged at least 3,000 homes. About 1,500 people remained in 18 American Red Cross shelters.
Statewide, more than 42,500 people have registered for state and federal assistance, 23,048 of them don't have flood insurance according to officials.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved more than $3.8 million in direct aid to hurricane victims in the state. In addition, a relief fund set up by the state has taken in $5.7 million.
The people there seem to be at the end of their ropes.
"They don't seem to have any energy or desire to put things back togetheagain," said psychologist Dr. Jonathan Barnes. "There's just a real attitude of depression, discouragement and uneasiness."
But Gov. James Hunt, whose own farm was damaged by Hurricane Floyd, told CBS This Morning Co-Anchor Thalia Assuras that state residents are resilient.
"We are beginning to come back with the help of thousands of people from throughout the country," Hunt said. "Now we need folks' continued prayers and help in every way."
Hunt said it might take up to three years before the state is back to normal. State agencies must reduce their budgets by one percent and freeze most spending for construction and equipment. This comes as the state tries to match $200 million dollars in federal relief funds for Hurricane Floyd.