WILMINGTON/FAYETTEVILLE, N.C., Sept 18 (Reuters) - Residents of the Carolinas struggled to return to normalcy on Tuesday after taking a beating from Hurricane Florence, but those efforts were hindered by standing water and the anticipation of more flooding from swollen rivers.
At least 32 people have been killed since Florence came ashore as a hurricane on Friday, including 25 in North Carolina and six in South Carolina. One person was killed when at least 16 tornadoes developed from Florence on Monday in Virginia, where dozens of buildings were destroyed, the National Weather Service reported.
Estimates of damage from the storm ranged as high as $22 billion.
As the remnants of Florence pushed through Pennsylvania and reached into New England, the weather service said the storm had dumped more than 8 trillion gallons (30 trillion liters) of rain on North Carolina.
Widespread flooding already has reached roofs, turned highways into rivers and left thousands to be saved by rescue workers.
Waterways were expected to keep rising on Tuesday in places like Fayetteville, North Carolina, a city of 200,000 in the southern part of the state, according to the weather service, hampering efforts to restore power, clear roads and return to homes.
"Flooding is still going to be a concern into the weekend and into next week," weather service meteorologist Hal Austin said, noting there is a chance of rain for the region on Tuesday and Wednesday. "No more water, not even a drop, please."
With 1,500 roads closed across North Carolina, fire and rescue crews were waiting to go into many areas to assist with structural damage after Florence dumped up to 36 inches (91 cm) of rain on the state since Thursday.
"Road conditions are still changing," the North Carolina Department of Transportation wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. "What's open now may become impassable."
Florence itself was centered about 100 miles (165 km) north-northwest of Philadelphia, the weather service said on Tuesday, reduced to an elongated low-pressure area with maximum sustained winds of 25 miles (35 km) per hour. It was still dumping heavy rain capable of setting off flash floods in the northern part of the Mid-Atlantic region and southern New England.
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