Water is still rising, especially in the Neuse and Tar rivers. While wipespread flooding is not noticeable yet, there are many low-lying areas that are underwater. The trouble is, as time goes by things are getting worse.
What looks like a winding river is actually a Wayne County road. The Neuse river spilled over one low-lying section of road making it impasssble. The North Carolina Department of Transportation has closed it off, resulting in cars turning around all day Thursday.
The NC Division of Water Quality is concerned about hog lagoons that may overflow their banks. Some lagoons are now just inches from overflowing. Environmental inspectors haven't found many problems yet, but they fear the worst is yet to come.
A junkyard in Goldsboro is an environmental nightmare. The Neuse flowed onto the property, stirring up a soupy mess amongst old cars and tires. Some of the debris is floating down river already.
In Goldsboro, the Neuse is expected to crest at 24 feet Saturday. It is already 10 feet above its flood stage, and only 3 feet below where the Neuse crested after Hurricane Fran more than a year ago.
One Goldsboro bar is open, but you might have to get there by boat. Before the waters recede, more Goldsboro residents may be busting out the boats.
Most areas along the Neuse, the Tar, and the Cape Fear rivers are under a flood warning. The real test will come Friday and Saturday.
The storm has produced strong winds, heavy rain and more than a foot of snow in some areas. About 85,000 Floridians are still without electricity. Thousands more have been blacked out in Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, western Maryland South and North Carolina.
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