Hurricane Florence hit 10 days ago and still hundreds of roads remain closed, thousands evacuated

Ten days after Hurricane Florence roared onto land along the coastal Carolinas, hundreds of roads remain closed, thousands of residents remain out of their homes or under evacuation watches, and hundreds are still being rescued from rising waters.

The death toll from the storm has reached 43, and tentative damage estimates in the range of $50 billion place the storm among the 10 most costly hurricanes in U.S. history.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said teams conducted more than 350 rescues over the weekend, raising the total to more than 5,200 since Florence slammed through the state. Ten river gauges in the state showed major or moderate flood stages, the National Weather Service said.

“Florence continues to bring misery to North Carolina,” Cooper said. “Remain careful and cautious in areas impacted by the storm, and stay away from flooded roads and communities. Don’t put yourself in danger.”

More than 400 roads remained closed across the state, although the last blocked segment of I-95 was reopened late Sunday, Cooper's office said.