US Coast Guard Rescues 426 Flood Victims Of Hurricane Florence In North Carolina

Hundreds of people and pets trapped by floods in the wake of Hurricane Florence have been rescued so far, as US relief agencies work to re-open waterways and ports needed to bring in relief supplies for recovery from the storm, the Coast Guard said in a press release on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th September, 2018) Hundreds of people and pets trapped by floods in the wake of Hurricane Florence have been rescued so far, as US relief agencies work to re-open waterways and ports needed to bring in relief supplies for recovery from the storm, the Coast Guard said in a press release on Tuesday.

"The Coast Guard has rescued 426 people and 234 pets since Hurricane Florence began," the release said.

The Coast Guard is also working with other US government agencies to reopen ports and waterways to support relief aid and resume commercial operations that are vital to the state of North Carolina's economy, the release explained.

Agencies involved in the effort include the North Carolina State Port Authority, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Army Corps of Engineers, the release said.

The sun came out in North Carolina on Tuesday, but high water is expected to remain for several days, as many rivers have yet to crest from upstream rainfall, which typically exceeded 30 inches, according to local media reports.