Rivers expected to be below flood stage by Oct. 24

RALEIGH

Oct 16, 2016

As of early Sunday morning, four areas remain in a major flooding condition as river levels begin to drop. According to predictive analysis by North Carolina Emergency Management officials, all rivers are forecast to be below flood stage by Oct. 24, with Greenville, Tarboro and Goldsboro returning to normal by Thursday, Oct. 20.

Flooding along the Lumber, Cape Fear, Neuse and Tar rivers have crested except for short reaches as the rivers approach the coast. The peak on the Lumber River has moved into South Carolina.

The Tar River at Greenville, Neuse River near Goldsboro, Neuse River at Kinston and the Neuse River at Fort Barnwell are still designated as having major flooding conditions.

The Northeast Cape Fear River near Burgaw, the Tar River at the US 264 bypass near Rock Springs, the Contentnea Creek at Hookerton and the Tar River at Tarboro remain in the moderate flooding stage.

Other key flooding points:

The Lumber River is receding throughout Robeson County and is expected to drop below major flood stage by Monday afternoon.
The Neuse River at Goldsboro is expected to drop below major flood stage by tonight.
The Neuse River at Kinston is expected to drop below major flood stage by Wednesday morning.
The Tar River at Tarboro is now at moderate flood stage. It is expected to drop below moderate flood stage Monday morning.
The Tar River at Greenville is currently receding and remains in major flood stage. It is expected to drop below major flood stage by Tuesday morning.
Sound gages are being monitored in New Bern, Washington and Belhaven. The Washington gage is showing no discernable tidal fluctuations.
The Belhaven and New Bern gages are showing minor tidal fluctuations and no discernable effect from the flood flows in the Tar and Neuse Rivers, respectively.

Remember these safety tips when encountering flooded areas and standing water:

Always assume that floodwater is contaminated.
Do not walk or wade through floodwater. Standing water can hide chemicals that can make you sick, power lines that can cause electrocution and sharp debris that can seriously harm you.
Do not to let floodwater come in contact with bare or broken skin. If bare skin does come in contact with floodwater, wash as soon as possible with soap and clean water.
Wear rubber boots and gloves for clean-up. Clothing that has come in contact with floodwater should be laundered and hot dried.

Dial 211 to speak with a trained call specialist about Hurricane Matthew assistance in your area; the service is free, confidential and available in any language. Call 511 for the latest road conditions or check the ReadyNCmobile app, which also has real-time shelter and evacuation information. For updates on Hurricane Matthew impacts and relief efforts, go to ReadyNC.org or follow N.C. Emergency Management on Twitter and Facebook. People or organizations that want to help ensure North Carolina recovers can visit NCdisasterrelief.org or textNCRecovers to 30306.