Rising Tar River forces Tarboro and Princeville evacuations
PRINCEVILLE, NC (WTVD) -- The rain stopped falling days ago, but flood waters may not stop coming for another few days in Edgecombe County.
After Hurricane Matthew battered North Carolina communities with more than a foot of rain, all the storm water runoff continues to make its way down sewers, creeks, streams and rivers - far outpacing capacity.
In Edgecombe County, the millions of gallons of water is now flowing into the Tar River, nestled in between Tarboro and Princeville. On Sunday evening, police and fire crews visited residents warning them to leave immediately.
The Tar River was expected to crest Tuesday morning. It is not expected to go below 30 feet until Friday, which is still 11 feet above flood stage.
WATCH: Jonah Kaplan reports on flooding in Edgecombe County
"There are a lot of people that have been here all they're lives, this is all they have," flood victim Almeta Jones lamented to ABC11. "It's not what's in the home that's important to them. It's just their home that they built."
The American Red Cross set up three shelters in the area.
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As of Monday morning, about 700 people had been evacuated from Princeville. It wasn't clear how many were forced out of Tarboro.
Police officers were stationed at bridges to keep people from trying to get into low-lying areas. Only people trying to get out were being allowed through.
There are shelters at Tarboro High, Martin Millennium, and DS Johnson.
WATCH: Elaina Athens reports on flooding in Edgecombe County
