Its here. Its absolutely here. Reporter high winds and heavy rain. Hurricane matthew is batters floridas coast. Were already seeing the impacts, and its a monster. Again, our number one priority is protecting every life in the state. Reporter but the worst hasnt hit just yet. The tomorrow is expected to pound the area with high surf and spawn tornadoes. This storm will kill you. Reporter 2 Million People in matthews path have been told to get out of way. Its th since super storm sandy in 2012. It could destroy homes and cut power to millions, possibly for days, and First Responders may not be there to help. This is really a serious storm. We have in every way tried to prepare as much as possible to keep you safe as possible. Reporter and to that end here in florida theyre doing what they can to keep people safe. Theyve opened 130 shelters across the state. Problem accommodating people, urging people if they dont have a safe place to be they need to make it to the shelters to stay safe.
If theres any good news here, its that its actually been downgraded to a category 2, but thats not to be taken lightly. We can still get winds of up to 110 Miles Per Hour. Oh wow reporter Hurricane Matthew slammed into the east coast bringing high winds and heavy rain. The storm transformed streets into rivers. How you guys doing over there . Reporter some places could 6 rain. Coastal communities in georgia and the carolinas bracing for the brunt of the storm. Storm force winds effecting the state of georgia and will continue to do so for were told about the next 24 hours. Its getting worse, so were looking at major storm surges. Were looking at major winds. Reporter heres another look at the wind were dealing with here. Im actually standing out in flying debris, and i feel a little better out here because we had some glass actually fall on us closer next to the building that were seeking shelter in. Now 75 percent of the town because of the dangerous conditions have gotten out, but th
Them here and on our 11 00 news on wral. For overnight changes on the situation watch the morning news starts at 4 30 on wral. Tonight president obama declared a major disaster area, 31 counties impacted by the storm are now eligible for federal aid. It will supplement federal and state efforts already in motion. Fema says the damage surveys are continuing, and more counties and additional forms of assistance several School Districts closed again tomorrow. We have a list to run down for you. Clinton city schools closed tomorrow, Cumberland County closed again, Edgecombe County schools closed. Continuing that list, halifax, hoke county schools closed, Johnson County schools also closed. And samson, wayne, and Wilson County schools closed tomorrow. You can see the list of closings scrolling at the bottom of the screen, and any time on www. Wral. Com. And people in princeville are keeping a close eye on the tar river. I understand that police are not letting anyone in . Reporter theyre no
Home for the first time. Adam joins us from goldsboro. Reporter we talked to people tonight who waited days to get back even in heir their neighborhoods. Whenstays that high for that long, you know its going to be bad. He might returning returnflood damage he thought but he has no home to return to at all. The basement before but not like this. Straw but to walk away and the family doesnt have Flood Insurance ge its hard to pick up and its hard to pick up and go at a moments notice. Street had problems. Some were washed away. Its going to be a ghost town here. Reporter many homehad xs written on them. Was a sign the home was searched for people in rise rise rising water. At a church in another part of the city, they are walking an on water. Maybe the where the water is reporter he started the miniago. We were there her is is surveyed the damage gentleman everything. Reporter the past jure look to god like never before. Hes uly. Control. Reporter of people were displaced in wayne county
People. Candace sweat is in the news room, and we heard from pena himself today . Yes he was quite choked up after the verdict, calling the decisions he made that night awful, and the consequences gruesome. This case is about a 20year old man who got drunk and despite the best efforts of his friends, killed three people and injure aid 9yearold girl. Report mention words sentencing the man to up to 15 years in prison. Prior to the judges final words, the jury delivered a verdict, finding him guilty on three counts of manslaughter. He drove the wrong way down interstate 85 after a night of drinking killing three people, he expressed remorse for his actions. Not a day goes by where im not reminded of my decisions and my gruesome consequences. I wish it would have been me that died. Im the only one deserving of this heart break and misery. Reporter he also faced charges of seconddegree murder, but was found not guilty. The trial was taxing for both family, and many families, and many over.