'We're looking at weeks' before all roads reopen, says Harnett County sheriff

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Crews have had to save people from flooding as waters swelled up above the windows of homes in Harnett County.

At one point during Hurricane Florence, water levels would have covered the head of anybody standing in the street. On Tuesday, the water was receding but rescues continued.

Rushing water at the corner of N.C. Highway 27 and Nursery Road in Harnett County created the illusion of a rushing river. Florence has moved on, but its water, fast and high, is still causing trouble.

Sheriff Wayne Coats said the county has performed at least a dozen rescues over the past several days and warns that the end of the rain doesn’t mean hazards have been eliminated.

“The barricades are up there for your safety. When you go around them, you may not see any water until you get in that curve and there’s water,” Coats said.

With flooding comes concern about infrastructure. As of Tuesday evening, some 40 roads throughout the county were still deemed impassable.

“It’s going to be days, maybe weeks, before these roads will be passable because they’re going to have to be inspected where the bridges are,” Coats said. “So, we’re looking at weeks, maybe weeks away from some of these roads being open.”