Hurricane Matthew Blamed for at Least 15 Deaths, Record-Breaking Flooding Continues to Disrupt Travel

Ferry service in Savannah was also disrupted.

Hurricane Matthew, now downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone as of Sunday morning, continues to pummel North Carolina and Virginia after the storm caused record breaking flooding and storm-related deaths were reported in Florida, Carolina, and Georgia.

The storm’s heavy rain has caused dangerous flooding in parts of eastern North Carolina and caused a record surge of 12.5’ (3.81 meters) at Tybee Island, near the state’s border with South Carolina. The previous record was 12.2’ (3.72 meters), set during Hurricane David in 1979.

“This is still an extremely dangerous situation,” said North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory at a news conference about the storm Sunday.

The death toll in the United States is now 15 and could continue to climb. Officials in North Carolina confirmed seven deaths there, while Georgia officials reported three deaths in that state. At least six people are dead as a result of the storm in Florida, and three people have been killed by Matthew in Georgia. In Haiti, which was devastated by the hurricane, several organizations there are reporting that the death toll there is over 800.

Over 750,000 people in North Carolina have no power, while in South Carolina, that figure is some 425,000. Many roads and highways have been shut down throughout the region including US 80 from Savannah to Tybee Island and Interstate 95 between exits 58 and 67 in Liberty County in Georgia as well as parts of Interstate 40 and Interstate 95 in North Carolina.

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport Airport, which has been closed, is set to restart commercial air service Monday and the storm left thousands of passengers stranded throughout the region impacted by Matthew.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)