Wilmington, September 17 (RHC)-- At least 23 people in North and South Carolina have been reported killed by Tropical Depression Florence, which has broken all of North Carolina’s rainfall records.  Officials are warning that the worst of the storm may still be yet to come, as catastrophic flooding inundates the Carolinas coast. 

Up to 20,000 people are in emergency shelters in North Carolina alone.  Governor Roy Cooper said: “Flood waters are still raging across parts of our state and the risk to life is rising with the angry waters. 

Experts have warned Florence could also cause widespread environmental damage and toxic spills from coal ash dumps, hog manure lagoons, chicken farms, and nuclear facilities in North and South Carolina. 

Torrential rains have already caused a collapse at a coal ash landfill at an inactive Duke Energy power plant.  Duke Energy says 2,000 cubic yards of ash were released and could run off into the nearby Cape Fear River.