N.C. Rivers Rising in Wake of Irene’s Fury

Storm-weary North Carolina residents nervously watched rivers rising toward flood stage on Monday in the wake of Hurricane Irene, the third hurricane to target the state since August.

Irene, which left 15 people dead as it ripped through Cuba, the Bahamas and Florida, dumped nearly a foot of rain on parts of the state still struggling to recover from devastating floods caused by Hurricane Floyd last month.

The Carolina coast was spared Irene’s most damaging winds and rains as the storm, a minimal hurricane capable of downing trees and causing local flooding, remained offshore and then veered out to sea overnight.

The rains once again sent streams from their banks and promised to produce more serious flooding later this week as runoff drains into the Tar, Neuse and Cape Fear rivers.

“We’re hoping that since a little bit less rain fell than they were projecting, that the [river] crests won’t be as high as they might have been,” North Carolina emergency spokeswoman Sara Kempin said.

North Carolina Gov. James B. Hunt declared a state of disaster for eastern North Carolina, mobilizing 300 National Guard troops and opening 39 armories.

To help flood victims cope, the Red Cross has sent 244 mental health workers to eastern North Carolina--more than for any other disaster except the Oklahoma City bombing.