Two more dead as North Carolina governor visits flooded towns

PRINCEVILLE, N.C., Oct. 15 (UPI) -- The total number of deaths from Hurricane Matthew in North Carolina rose to 24 on Saturday as Governor Pat McCrory visited towns experiencing extreme flooding.

McRory confirmed the deaths of a 63-year-old male in Cumberland County and a 86-year-old male in Lenoir County as he visited the flood-stricken towns of Princeville and Tarboro, as relief efforts continued.

"I've seen the best of North Carolina here in Princeville and Tarboro under the most difficult of circumstances," he said, according to a press release. "This is a prolonged event, but we are working around the clock to help people in impacted areas and will continue to do so."

Approximately 2,200 people were forced from their homes as the entire town of Princeville was evacuated and the Tar River crested on Thursday, leaving the area underwater.

"People don't know, but 80 percent of the town including Mayor Bobbie Jones' home is underwater," McRory told displaced residents, according to the Rocky Mount Telegram.

McRory observed the devastating flooding from a helicopter and although the Tar River began to recede and state-wide power outages dropped to 16,803 from a peak of more than 800,000, he said recovery would be a prolonged effort.

"This is a disaster area. It's not going to recover in 24 hours and it's still going on as we speak, not only in Princeville, but 150 miles from here," he said, according to CNN. "People are playing golf 20 miles from here and yet we have a whole town under water."

McRory reported that the river water had been filled with raw sewage and warned residents to stay away from the water.

He also pledged to push for federal legislation to change the way hurricane categories are classified, saying Matthew's change from a Category 4 to a Category 1 was misleading.

"We need to look at these classifications because the current classifications mislead. It has to include water, not just wind," McRory said.