Two dead, 20 missing as search continues for people trapped by flooding in western NC

Two people are confirmed dead and 20 remain missing as searches continue in flood-damaged Haywood County, in the mountains of western North Carolina.

The identities of the two dead have not been released.

Both were found overnight and the bodies were sent to a medical examiner for identification, according to a news release from Haywood County Emergency Services.

Among the 20 people missing are from other parts of the country who were visiting the area, county officials said a a press conference Thursday. However, most of those unaccounted for are from the Bethel/Cruso area of the county, which saw “devastating” flooding, officials said.

At least 500 families have been displaced in the county, including some who saw their homes swept away, officials said.

“Over 200 searchers set off today on missions to continue searching home to home along the Pigeon River, clearing areas and making preliminary assessments of damage,” the county said on Thursday.

NC mountain towns wrecked by deadly flood. Residents pick up the pieces.

“Ground, aerial (drone), and swift water rescue teams are continuing intensive search efforts today.”

The number of missing dropped by 15 overnight after “several people were determined to be safe and reunited with their families.”

County officials report their efforts to find people are hampered by “significant damage to roads and bridges, especially in Cruso, with at least 10-15 bridges damaged or destroyed.”

County officials reported Wednesday that homes were pushed off their foundations and entire mobile home parks were destroyed by the fast-rising water.

Videos posted on social media showed vehicles and sheds floating away and mobile homes surrounded by fast moving rivers of water.

Haywood County Sheriff Greg Christopher said debris was carried for miles by the water, including vehicles and homes.

“We are having to go in and open the doors on those and make sure there is nothing inside that we need to know about,” he said.

“I don’t have no idea of the number of cars that is in the river still, or on the edges or sides of the river. ... As the river recedes, hopefully we’re going to be able to get in there to be able to open the doors and make sure that there’s nobody in there as well.”

Cheri Mincey told WLOS that she was inside her mobile home as it was picked up by water and carried three blocks — into the side of a tree.

“All of a sudden, I’m floating! I don’t have a steering wheel, I don’t have a brake, I don’t have anything to control it,” Mincey told the station. “I called 911 and the rescue people told me to get on the highest piece of furniture I could find and to stay there until they could get somebody to rescue me.”

Nearly a dozen people are staying in an emergency shelter, officials said.

As many as 30 bridges ”are out from the public safety stand point,” county officials said.

The flooding was caused Tuesday by remnants of Tropical Storm Fred. Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency Wednesday and noted both Haywood and Transylvania counties “were especially hard hit,” with as much as a foot of rain.

“Unconfirmed reports” in some communities put water levels at “3 to 7 feet higher than their previous high watermark,” Cooper said at a Wednesday press conference.

Rescue teams have pulled “more than 105 people” from the floodwaters since Tuesday, the state says.

Cell service was out in the county, and there are “widespread water outages” due to waterline breaks and the Canton water plant going offline. Canton officials also report buildings housing the town’s police, fire and and emergency response departments are “completely off line.”