Pender County Near Wilmington Suffers Flooding After Hurricane Matthew

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Latest on the recovery from Hurricane Matthew (all times local):

8:15 a.m.

Officials in Pender County northwest of Wilmington, North Carolina, say the flooding after Hurricane Matthew is among the worst the county has had in many years.

Pender County Manager Randall Woodruff flew over the area Thursday and could see some homes where only rooftops were visible from the waterline.

More than 200 homes have been affected by the flooding from the Black River and Northeast Cape Fear River.

Officials say some people refused to evacuate Thursday even though the area has been without electricity.

The flooding could affect downtown Wilmington and riverside roads in New Hanover County this weekend.

A swift water rapids team from Charlotte and teams from Greensboro and Brunswick County were helping agencies on the ground Thursday in Pender County. A state team was working to rescue stranded animals.

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7:35 a.m.

Officials in Lumberton in southeastern North Carolina say some people could be without water for two weeks as employees work to recover from Hurricane Matthew.

A water treatment plan had massive flooding and the water has to be removed before officials can assess the damage and make repairs.

City manager Wayne Horne said Thursday there's no timetable for the restoration of service because of the high water levels from the Lumber River.

Horne says power has been restored in most of the city. One section of the town still has flooded roads that have delayed restoration of service.

Robeson County still had more than 20,000 people without electricity. A county spokeswoman said a substation and a number of power lines were under water.

More than 1,300 people were still in shelters.

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7 a.m.

Three kennels in the Charlotte area need help handling 72 dogs moved to North Carolina from the Charleston, South Carolina, area as Hurricane Matthew approached.

The Charlotte Observer reported (http://bit.ly/2e5qexa) that the dogs were moved from an animal rescue shelter in Ladson, South Carolina, Oct. 7 to shelters in Mooresville and Indian Trail.

Matthew damaged the South Carolina shelter's fences, kennels and dog runs, and repairs could take several weeks.

The kennel Dog Day Out Grooming and Pet Resort in Indian Trail has 44 dogs. The others are at another location in Indian Trail or one in Mooresville.

Some shelters are seeking volunteers to help with feeding, exercise and cleaning.

Supplies are also needed, including towels, blankets, detergent, metal dog bowls and treats.

Donations are also welcome.

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3 a.m.

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory says the state will rebuild and take steps to protect one of the country's oldest towns chartered by African-Americans after it was inundated by floodwaters for the second time in less than 20 years.

After a Thursday flyover, McCrory says the town of Princeville is under water from flooding caused by Hurricane Matthew. It's the same town that was flooded up to rooftops because of Hurricane Floyd in 1999.

The governor pledged to help the town rebuild as well as take steps to make sure the town isn't overrun by floodwaters again.

Also, McCrory said the death toll in North Carolina associated with Hurricane Matthew has risen to 22 after two more deaths were reported Thursday.

[STORY BY: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS]