Hurricane Matthew stories

Eighteen families expect to return home in Lumberton next week after an extended and unwanted stay in area motels.

In Pinetops, on Pitt Street at Bruton Craft Lane, a swath of once-empty lots is becoming a new neighborhood. Samaritan's Purse is building 20 new homes for families who lost everything to flooding.

In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, Seven Springs in Wayne County is a ghost town. Seven Springs is one of six communities the state has given priority to in the recovery effort. Forty-seven of 49 homes were seriously damaged, most beyond repair, and only seven families have returned.

This Christmas was unlike any other for people still recovering from Hurricane Matthew. Among those who lost their homes, their cars and their jobs, there remained plenty who didn't lose the Christmas spirit.

The deadline is looming for North Carolinians to seek federal aid in recovering from Hurricane Matthew. All claims must be registered by Monday, Jan. 9.

Hurricane Matthew is not hurting the holiday spirit at the Salvation Army in Goldsboro. While donations are down, the organization said every child will have a Christmas.

Gov. Pat McCrory on Thursday signed a $200 million disaster recovery bill into law at the Executive Mansion in Raleigh.

Only six buildings in Seven Springs escaped flooding, one local official said, and many business owners lacked flood insurance. As state lawmakers debate funding for recovery efforts, some residents aren't sure the oldest town in Wayne County will ever recover.

State and local officials are frantically trying to lower the level of a Fayetteville lake to protect dozens of homes downstream in case the earthen dam that holds the lake fails.

Louisburg College, a residential two-year college, is offering new grants and scholarships for college students in Eastern North Carolina affected by Hurricane Matthew.

The Princeville Fire Department on Monday night received the keys to a firetruck from Toisnot to replace one of five trucks damaged by Hurricane Matthew.

Gov. Pat McCrory has called the General Assembly back to work on Dec. 13 to address issues related to recovering from Hurricane Matthew.

Residents can drive down some streets in Princeville and never see another person. Doors and windows are open and, inside, homes are empty.

A Fayetteville Public Works Commission worker died Tuesday while repairing an earthen dam A Fayetteville Public Works Commission worker died Tuesday while making repairs near an earthen dam damaged by Hurricane Matthew, authorities said.

Groups helping the thousands of North Carolinians who saw homes and businesses flooded by Hurricane Matthew say the need for volunteers has not decreased as time has passed. The shortage of hands is greatest in counties hardest-hit by the storm.

Princeville town leaders met with residents Monday night to discuss their plans for moving forward following devastating floods from Hurricane Matthew.

The six weeks after Hurricane Matthew hit has been a trying time for many people across North Carolina, but it will take a lot of high water to bring one Goldsboro family down.

Storm survivors will have until Jan. 9, 2017 to register with FEMA. The new deadline also applies to homeowners, renters and businesses submitting applications for low-interest disaster loans.

People across eastern North Carolina are continuing to recover after Hurricane Matthew.

About 1,000 people sat down to a dinner table in the middle of Fayetteville Street Sunday afternoon and enjoyed a classic North Carolina meal to raise money for Hurricane Matthew flood victims.

Former military members are providing disaster relief in Goldsboro and other areas affected by Hurricane Matthew

AT&T is closing a call center in Goldsboro that was flooded during hurricane Matthew but the affected employees are being offered a chance to transfer to other locations. AT&T is offering them a $10,000 relocation allowance.

Some of the most critical things to replace after a natural disaster are legal records--the paperwork that documents our lives.

The North Carolina Consumer Protection Division has questions for four businesses accused of jacking up prices as the state dealt with Hurricane Matthew.

Mae Jones, of Fayetteville, says she will never forget the day Matthew's floodwaters came pouring into her home on Waterless Street. She was cooking grits and bacon when she got word it was time to evacuate.

More than two weeks after Hurricane Matthew's floodwaters invaded Princeville, everyone in the community was finally able to return home on Tuesday.

Many medical offices lost power during the storm, resulting in the loss of thousands of dollars of medicines and vaccines while some flu shot clinics had to be delayed.

About 1,000 Princeville residents have been allowed to go back to their homes to get a first look at the damage caused by Hurricane Matthew.

As North Carolina continues to recover from the damage caused by Hurricane Matthew, the storm's effect on roads is clear.

A donkey rescued from floodwaters in Pender County during Hurricane Matthew gave birth to a baby girl over the weekend.

Fayetteville police said officers responded to a crash along a stretch of collapsed road on Bingham Drive near the intersection of Tiree Drive at about 4:10 p.m

Smithfield businesses are getting creative on ways to rebuild after Hurricane Matthew and Saturday was the second day of a flood sale to help raise money for a damaged warehouse.

In the two weeks since Hurricane Matthew hit North Carolina, recovery efforts have focused on flooding in eastern counties, overshadowing the high water some Raleigh businesses experienced.

About a quarter of the approximately 2,000 Princeville residents returned home Friday, 12 days after the historic Edgecombe County town was evacuated before high water from the Tar River flowed through its streets.

Most adults will remember Hurricane Matthew for its heavy rains and subsequent flooding, but children have their own memories of the storm, so Cumberland County teachers and school counselors are letting students express the impact of the storm in various ways.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says it will begin releasing water from Falls Lake Dam on Friday to bring lake levels back to normal after rain from Hurricane Matthew drenched the area.

Hurricane Matthew has forced residents in a Fayetteville neighborhood to cross a dangerous earthen dam to leave the subdivision. But now, after more than a week, residents are concerned about how they would get help in an emergency.

Slammed by four historic floods in less than 20 years, Windsor is now attempting to rebuild from Hurricane Matthew.

Leaders of Robeson County schools say they plan to get students back to class on Monday, two weeks after the county was hit hard by Hurricane Matthew.

Environmental activists say they have proof of a coal ash leak into the Neuse River during the flooding after Hurricane Matthew. Duke Energy says the substance visible on the water is not coal ash and is not toxic.

State law requires that schools provide either 185 days or 1,025 hours of instruction every year. Only the legislature can change that requirement, and that is what Gov. Pat McCrory suggested it do in a speech Wednesday about hurricane recovery.

On Wednesday, classes will resume in new locations for students at Vernon Malone College and Career Academy in Raleigh after floodwaters from Hurricane Matthew filled the halls.

Kinston is slowly wringing itself out from the record flooding after Hurricane Matthew.

Gov. Pat McCrory on Wednesday announced the creation of the Hurricane Matthew Recovery Committee to help the state of North Carolina rebuild following the deadly Oct. 8 storm.

Water damage from Hurricane Matthew could put some Smithfield business owners without flood insurance out of business.

Avoid con artists claiming to be hurricane relief.

Following Hurricane Matthew, the Vass community has come together to help those who were forced form their homes downstream of the Woodlake Dam.

Clean up continued in Fayetteville on Monday for families hit hard by Hurricane Matthew. The lives of the families living in the Mount Sinai homes on Murchison Road were turned upside down when flood waters seeped inside the 99 units.

Most people have returned to their flooded homes in Goldsboro and Wayne County and are finding they need a lot of help to piece their lives back together.

Interstate 95, closed by flood damage from Hurricane Matthew last week in two locations, was back open through North Carolina Monday afternoon.

More than a week after Hurricane Matthew, some communities are finally starting to see floodwaters recede. In Edgecombe County, the National Guard is helping to speed that process along by pumping water out of Princeville.

Home repairs were underway in Goldsboro Sunday morning as water levels in the Neuse River started to decrease.

Before Hurricane Floyd hit in 1999, the town of Seven Springs had a population just shy of 200 people, but only 110 returned after the flood. At the start of 2016, the town had 84 people, but with Hurricane Matthew's impact, many are wondering whether they should return or leave for good.

The number of Hurricane Matthew-related deaths in North Carolina rose again on Saturday morning to 26 after two people were found dead inside their flooded vehicles.

Flood waters remained waist-deep in some areas across North Carolina on Saturday, including in the city of Lumberton.

The Neuse River in Kinston reached record high levels this week and is not expected to drop below major flood stage until next week.

The floodwaters are gradually going down in Kinston, but bridges across the Neuse River remain closed and several highways, including U.S. 70, are still shut down.

As the flood water begin to recede in parts of North Carolina, stories of heroism continue to come to the surface.

On an inspection at Princeville Elementary School Superintendent John Farrelly captured a canine rescue on camera.

Floodwaters in Kinston set a record Friday for a second day in a row as levels rose overnight.

There is an enormous cleanup task ahead for those who plan to return to Goldsboro.

Wake County Schools announced make up days for Monday, Oct. 10 due to Hurricane Matthew.

Some residents in Wayne County are beginning to return home to find out how badly Hurricane Matthew damaged their homes, but many others are still waiting for flooding to recede before they can begin to clean up.

Farmers are racing against time to get their crops out of muddy fields after Hurricane Matthew before they rot.

High water from the Tar Rivev has turned some streets of Greenville into canals, with water lapping at warehouses and brick houses while submerging mail boxes and sending trash bins bobbing.

Since Hurricane Matthew hit, crews have come by boat and by air to pull 2,300 North Carolina flood victims to safety.

Flooding across eastern North Carolina is preventing utility crews from getting to certain areas, Duke Energy officials said Friday, meaning thousands of customers will be without power for weeks.

A man shot and killed this week by a state trooper conducting search-and-rescue in a flooded Lumberton neighborhood had a lengthy criminal record, including several charges of pointing a gun at people.

The damage Hurricane Matthew caused in Cumberland County forced the school district to shut down for a week, but officials say schools will reopen Monday morning.

For the many groups gathering donations, flood cleanup focuses on the need for household cleaning supplies that can can help another person in need.

Cumberland County's Department of Social Services pulled double duty Thursday, helping flood victims while providing services to thousands of regular clients not impacted by the storm.

On Thursday afternoon, Johnston County schools announced that classes would be canceled Monday, meaning students will have missed over a week of school.

A section of Interstate 95 will be closed in Benson for at least two days as crews divert traffic and begin work to repair damage caused by Hurricane Matthew.

The work to repair roads damaged by Hurricane Matthew has just begun. As the sun rose Thursday, Tom Little, a Department of Transportation engineer, was out working on Interstate 40. A chunk of the road in Johnston County had washed away in the storm.

Cumberland County authorities are asking for the public's help finding a man who went missing while Hurricane Matthew hammered North Carolina.

No new storm-related deaths were reported Thursday morning as rescue operations began to slow down and high waters--in some places--began to recede.

The aftermath of Hurricane Matthew is threatening livelihoods as local farmers are working overtime to salvage what they can of their crops.

Siple Avenue used to be the only safe way to get in or out of the Rayconda subdivision, but flood water from Hurricane Matthew has changed that.

Senate Democrats called on Republican Gov. Pat McCrory to recall the General Assembly for a special session to deal with Hurricane Matthew. McCrory says there's no need for lawmakers to act yet.

Hurricane Floyd nearly washed the town of Princeville off the map in 1999, and this time the town was ready, but it was not enough.

As Sampson County officials wait for the Federal Emergency Management Agency approve disaster recovery funds for the county, residents are coping with flooded homes and washed-out streets.

Authorities said that Isabelle Ralls, 81, of Falcon, was found dead inside her vehicle in the 100 block of Rhodes Pond Road at about 3:20 p.m. Monday.

Thousands of gallons of water flowed out of a cooling pond at a retired Duke Energy power plant on Wednesday after part of the retaining wall on the 545-acre pond gave way.

Critical-needs patients were being evacuated Wednesday afternoon from Southeastern Regional Medical Center in Lumberton, but hospital officials said other patients will stay in the hospital as the city recovers from extensive flooding caused by Hurricane Matthew.

A town that made headlines following Hurricane Floyd in 1999 is dealing with a similar scenario in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.

The devastating flooding dumped on North Carolina by Hurricane Matthew destroyed roads and house, businesses and trees, but the lingering water could have serious impacts on health.

Two more Hurricane Mattew-related deaths, including a man who was swept away by water on Sunday, were reported on Wednesday morning, bringing North Carolina's total number of deaths to 19 since the storm began.

Goldsboro police said officers responded to a vehicle found in a wooded creek area in the 2500 block of Wayne Memorial Drive at about 4:45 p.m. and found the body of Lemuel Frank Kornegay, 54, inside the vehicle.

Residents said things have been difficult since Hurricane Matthew knocked power out Saturday. Many of them have thrown away food and left their homes for shelters or a relative's house as they waited and watched as power crews made their rounds.

After Hurricane Floyd flooded Seven Springs in 1999, about half of the residents left and never came back. The town was in the process of rebuilding when Matthew prompted severe flooding.

Tuesday was full of tense moments for people living in Goldboro as the Neuse River continued to flood neighborhoods.

Generally speaking, a 100-year flood means there's a 1% chance in any given year that you'd see that kind of flooding at that spot. A 500-year flood means there's a 0.2% chance in a given year you'd see that kind of flooding.

A town that made headlines following Hurricane Floyd in 1999 is now hoping that history will not repeat itself.

Owners of homes and businesses flooded by a hurricane can benefit from federal assistance programs, but getting organized is key.

Watching and waiting is the main activity in Kinston this week, as residents wait for the excess water in the Neuse River following Hurricane Matthew to roll downstream toward them in the coming days.

A day after flooding from Hurricane Matthew chased Lumberton residents from their homes, they are trying to get their lives in order while waiting for the water to recede.

National Guard members threw sandbags Tuesday afternoon on a growing hole in a crumbling dam near Vass in hopes of preventing the structure from giving way entirely.

Flooding from Hurricane Matthew has stranded dozens of students on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke without power.

Gov. Pat McCrory asked for 66 counties to be included in the federal disaster declaration following Hurricane Matthew. As of Monday, only 31 were included, but officials say more could be included.

Officials in Cumberland County say a woman reported missing after Hurricane Matthew has been found safe.

With the addition of three more confirmed deaths Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Pat McCrory said 17 people have now died in North Carolina due to Hurricane Matthew.

A man who was last seen near Hurricane Matthew flood waters in Fayetteville has been found, according to the college where he works.

More than 42,000 customers in Wake County were still in the dark Monday night. In Robeson County, 22,000 customers were without power while nearly 21,000 customers were still in the dark in Wayne County. Johnston County was reporting about 18,000 power outages.

Many officials have forecast flooding along the Neuse River to rival the high water seen after Hurricane Floyd in 1999, which has prompted school closings and calls for evacuations days before the river crests in Goldsboro and Kinston.

They City of Raleigh on Tuesday will offer reduced-price daycare, hot showers and a free cookout to residents who are still without power as a result of Hurricane Matthew.

In 1999, the entire Princeville community flooded. It was that memory that informed the mandatory evacuation order issued Sunday night.

Authorities with the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office said Bob, a 6-year-old horse, was being housed in one of the animal control livestock pens that was rapidly filling with water.

A glance at some busy roads in Raleigh Monday showed that not every driver knew what to do when approaching a darkened signal. The rule is clear: If the light is out, treat the intersection like a four-way stop, granting right-of-way to the driver on the right.

After viewing the devastating flooding caused across eastern North Carolina by Hurricane Matthew, Gov. Pat McCrory said Monday that he plans to talk with National Weather Service officials about adjusting the way the agency rates hurricanes.

Floodwaters started receding in Cumberland County on Monday, but residents were left overwhelmed by the cleaning up and rebuilding they now face.

Standing water closed U.S. Highway 70 into Smithfield Monday, and lots of businesses on the town's East Market Street were flooded.

Hundreds of Lumberton residents were forced to flee their homes early Monday as water from Hurricane Matthew poured into their neighborhoods.

With Interstate 95 closed in both directions near Dunn, Harnett County authorities urged drivers to stay home and avoid flooded roads.

Hundreds of public and private schools in North Carolina are closed Monday, and some will be closed multiple days, while communities struggle to recover from the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.

More than a half million customers were still without power across eastern North Carolina Monday, some having suffered through 48 hours in the dark after the passage of Hurricane Matthew.

In Robeson County, the Lumber River could reach record levels this week and before the water recedes, levels could reach more than 20 feet.

A dog captured on video swimming through floodwaters in Edgecombe County Sunday morning was one of multiple animals to be rescued in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, the Coast Guard said.

On Oak Island, Sunday was a day for cleanup and catch up.

Wake County schools will be closed Monday as power crews continue to work around the clock to get electricity restored to homes and classrooms.

As the streams and creeks that feed the Cape Fear River filled and overflowed in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, many needed to be rescued from the rushing water.

The impact of Hurricane Matthew reached even the interstate highway system, where flooded lanes of Interstate 95 near Dunn were closed indefinitely Sunday afternoon after a dam breach at Rhodes Pond, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Hurricane Matthew is blamed for spreading a devastating fire. Winds whipping at hurricane strength pushed flames through a Cherry Grove condominium complex faster than firefighters could keep up.

New Hanover County officials have issued a voluntary evacuation notice to urge people in beach communities and flood-prone areas to leave before rain totals from Hurricane Matthew start adding up.

Travelers at RDU heading anywhere but Florida were in good shape Thursday, but almost 3,800 flights were canceled because of the storm.

A couple from South Florida spent more than a year preparing for a wedding in Savannah, Ga., but Hurricane Matthew crashed those plans, sending the couple and all their friends and relatives to Raleigh.

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has told residents in coastal areas to head to higher ground. Some were taking the advice and boarding up and heading out, but many others were not.

Although Hurricane Matthew isn't forecast to make landfall in North Carolina, it will bring rain to many parts of the state that have been inundated with wet weather in recent weeks.

Although Hurricane Matthew is no longer forecast to make landfall in North Carolina, several coastal counties and communities aren't taking any chances and are warning residents to be prepared for heavy rain and strong winds associated with the powerful storm.

As Friday turned to Saturday, the hurricane that Carolinians had watched for more than a week made itself felt. Heavy rain was falling over South Carolina in Hilton Head and Savannah, and Hurricane Matthew was expected to make landfall near Charleston before making a turn back out over the Atlantic Ocean.

As the state continues to watch and wait to see what impact Hurricane Matthew may have, the American Red Cross is reaching out for people to help them respond to the storm.

Members of a church in Orange County were in Haiti when Hurricane Matthew wreaked havoc on the country earlier this week. Church leaders said the group could not get out in time

Many residents of Carolina Beach are preparing to evacuate as Hurricane Matthew heads toward North Carolina.

For many Tarboro residents, images of flooding and warnings of heavy rainfall bring back thoughts of Hurricane Floyd.

Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency for two-thirds of North Carolina on Monday to better prepare for a potential hit later this week from Hurricane Matthew.

The local Red Cross and other organizations were getting into position Monday night as North Carolinians were expressing concern for Haiti, which experienced the effects of the category 4 hurricane Monday, while keeping a watchful eye on the storm that could impact the state.

Sky 5 surveys damage from across Central and Eastern North Carolina following Hurricane Matthew.

jshu.net visitors and TV viewers submitted these videos showing the impact of Hurricane Matthew on Central and Eastern North Carolina.

Hurricane Matthew skirted by the North Carolina coast on Oct. 8, 2016, but it dropped torrential rains across all of Central and Eastern North Carolina, leaving behind death and destruction for many.

Hurricane Matthew generated devastating flooding across Central and Eastern North Carolina in October 2016 after the storm brushed past the coastline on Oct. 8, 2016.