Flooding Threat Remains From Florence; Congress Considers Aid Package

As Congress considers a relief package to North Carolina and other states battered by Hurricane Florence, coastal residents are being reminded that the danger from the storm isn't over.

The aid would total almost one $1.7 billion dollars in new money to assist in the recovery from Florence.

It would likely come in the form of grants to states to help rebuild housing and public works and help businesses as they recover from the storm.

Lawmakers are already facing a deadline this week to fund the government before the Oct. 1 start of the budget year, and members of Congress will try to act on the disaster relief along with separate legislation to fund the government.

Thousands of coastal residents were told over the weekend that they may need to leave their homes because rivers are still rising more than a week after Hurricane Florence made landfall.

In North Carolina, five river gauges were still at major flood stage and five others were at moderate flood stage, according to National Weather Service.