Although rain is moving out of the Carolinas, flooding could last for weeks. Tuesday, rivers are cresting, causing more concern for neighborhoods already flooded.
In Spring Lake, North Carolina, many residents fled before Hurricane Florence, but others chose to stay. But due to the rising water, several people living at the Heritage at Fort Bragg Apartments were forced to evacuate, and strangers are offering sanctuary.
"I would’ve been trapped inside, says resident John Whitfield.
“I hope my apartment is not under water, but I gotta feeling it is.”
Rescue crews were helping Whitfield out of his first-floor apartment and were prepared to take him to a shelter. However, a neighbor stepped up, offering Whitfield a safe place to stay.”
"We'd just come up out of the water, standing there discussing whether they were gonna take me to a shelter or not, and she said, ‘I'll take him. You can stay with me,’” Whitfield explains.
Rene Reid, a woman who lives on the third floor and who has never met Whitfield, offered up her home.
“I wouldn’t want to see that happen to my father or any of my relatives,” says Reid. “See, I’m from Jamaica, and we are friendly people, so I’ll try to do whatever I can to help."
Whitfield expressed his appreciation, “It’s just so overwhelming to know that there’s still good people who will take somebody in that you don’t even know,” says Whitfield.
Reid says her new roommate can stay as long as he needs.
