NC Road Closures Grow To 1,200 Amid Massive Florence Flooding

CHARLOTTE, NC — More than 1,000 roads in North Carolina were closed Monday even as deadly Florence spins away from the state following days of historic rainfall. State officials strongly urged drivers to stay off the roads and out of vehicles as the death toll continued to rise. About 1,200 roads were shuttered, including more than 350 primary roads, the vast majority of which were in the southeastern and central part of the state.

Massive cleanup efforts have begun across the state, which is still reeling from the effects of Florence's wrath. The hurricane is now blamed for at least 19 deaths throughout the Carolinas and state officials are doing everything they can to keep that number from growing. That starts with urging people to stay off the roads.

“For many parts of North Carolina, the danger is still immediate. Flood waters are rising as rivers crest and will for days,” Gov. Roy Cooper said Monday. “I urge if you, if you don’t have to drive, stay off the roads, particularly south of U.S. 64. And don’t drive around barricades on roads."

Cooper said many people in the state awoke to sunshine for the first time in several days. But conditions remain dangerous, and they could worsen before they improve. He cautioned people in affected areas against leaving safe shelter to look at damage. This can interfere with emergency responders and relief efforts.

NCDOT bluntly states on its website: "Do not put your life, or the life of others, in danger by choosing to drive."

Even though the storm has passed travel conditions statewide are actually deteriorating, officials warned. Flood waters are rising and more trees are falling due to saturated soil. Furthermore, the companies that operate GPS navigation apps and devices have been unable to keep up with the hundreds of road closures, they're directing people onto closed — or worse, flooded — roads.

- About 1,100 road closures
- Wilmington INACCESSIBLE by land. DON'T travel, let responders work.
- Sections of I-95/40 flooded. No reopen time until crews assess damage.
- Avoid areas S of US 64/east of I-73/I-74
- https://t.co/Pbux7IDYBi: Use the route dropdown & incidents tab pic.twitter.com/XUFfcIoj25
— NCDOT (@NCDOT) September 17, 2018

State maintenance teams are assessing roads as weather conditions allow, officials said. But the number of road closures is expected to increase.

Officials noted Monday they managed to open a single road into Wilmington — cut off by Florence's wrath — to get in needed supplies. They expect that route could become closed again though as an access point due to flooding later Monday or sometime this week.

Travel should be "completely avoided" in areas south of U.S. Route 64 and east of Interstate 73/74. Several sections of Interstates 95 and 40 are flooded.

One lane of NB 311 at WB I-40 closed due to an overturn tractor trailer. One occupant transported to the hospital for what appears to be minor injury. #wsfire .145 pic.twitter.com/1GFj1a3tKH
— Winston-Salem FD (@cityofwsfire) September 17, 2018

"As the situation is rapidly changing NCDOT is doing our best to report these closures but recognizes we are not yet aware of all closures, therefore, we advise not to travel in these areas," the department said on its website.

Below is a complete breakdown of road closures as reported by NCDOT.

Photo credit: Renee Schiavone/Patch