Gov. Roy Cooper reported<\/a> in mid-November. Ongoing damage estimates were at $17 billion \u2014 more than from hurricanes Floyd and Matthew combined.<\/p>\nThe photographs herein are just a small representation of what people and communities experienced during and shortly after Florence. Many will continue to face challenges, Whitehead says. \u201cRecovery from a storm like this is counted in years, not months.\u201d<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a look at what areas in various southeastern and central parts of the state have endured.<\/em><\/p>\nBladen County experienced flooding in many areas. Photo by Liz Roll\/FEMA<\/p><\/div>\n
Left: Pollocksville, in Jones County, saw historic flooding as the Trent River overflowed its banks. Photo by Gray Whitley\/Sun Journal. Right: Flood waters from the Neuse River swamped parts of Kinston in Lenoir County. Photo by Ken Blevins\/Star-News.<\/p><\/div>\n
Hurricane Florence plunged Bald Head Island into a state of emergency. The island finally reopened to everyone on Oct. 1. Photo by Ken Blevins\/Star-News.<\/p><\/div>\n
On Sept. 15, a day after landfall, a line forms at a Speedway convenience store and gas station in Jacksonville, Onslow County. Photo by Justin Kase Conder.<\/p><\/div>\n
Left: Oriental, in Pamlico County on the Pamlico Sound, suffered major damage from Hurricane Florence. Photo by Liz Roll\/FEMA. Right: Friends, family and neighbors made quick work of gutting this house, one of many that flooded in a neighborhood off Oaks Road in New Bern, Craven County. Photo by Sarah Spiegler.<\/p><\/div>\n
The greatest storm surge occurred in New Bern, in Craven County, swamping the riverside city. Photo by Gray Whitley\/Sun Journal.<\/p><\/div>\n