'Wherever You Live In North Carolina, Be Alert For Sudden Flooding,' Gov. Cooper Warns usatoday.com

The relentless pounding from Florence, downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical depression but still a troublemaker, has submerged large portions of the Carolinas, killed at least 17 people and left 575,000 households and businesses without power.

The worst may still be ahead.

Dams and levees in areas pelted by Florence since Thursday were showing signs of distress as rivers overran their banks and authorities warned of more flooding to come. Landslides have become a concern as well — especially in North Carolina’s western mountains.

Tens of thousands faced mandatory evacuation orders from communities along the state’s steadily rising rivers — with the Cape Fear, Little, Lumber, Waccamaw and Pee Dee rivers all projected to overrun their banks.