National Weather Service officials say the Wilmington area is expected to reach major flooding levels, according to its latest flood briefing report Sunday afternoon.

Hurricane Florence was downgraded to a tropical depression, officials said. Life-threatening, catastrophic flash flooding and prolonged significant river flooding are expected to continue, stated the report.

Major-to record-river flooding is expected at many locations.

Flashflood warnings for New Hanover County will remain in effect through Sunday, said Woody White, chairman of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners in a Hurricane Florence briefing Sunday morning.

Flashflood and river flooding impacts will continue over a long period of time and are expected to get worse in the coming days, he said.

The current water levels in the Northeast Cape Fear River near Burgaw is at a major stage, with the latest observed stage value at 16 feet, according to the NWS flooding report.

Levels in that area of the river are expected to rise to 22 feet by noon Monday. It's is expected to reach 24 feet, its highest peak, at noon Thursday.

Possible impacts of river flooding at 16 feet include water getting into people’s homes, even in elevated homes in the River Birch and River Bend subdivisions, according to the NWS.

Should the river reach 22 feet, N.C. 53 could see impacts with about 12 miles of the roadway underwater, in some areas 7-feet deep, between the Northeast Cape Fear bridge and Maple Hill.

N.C. Department of Transporation reported that U.S. 74/76 near Leland was closed. This is in addition to Interstate 40 which was reported by NCDOT to be closed due to the weather-related events from Wilmington to I-95. 

New Hanover County has made arrangements to rescue residents, consolidate shelters, clean up roads, bring in resources like food and water and prepare for more rain and flooding.

The county can expect to receive five more inches of rain, White said.

White said New Hanover County has received over 26 inches of water and that the rain will be tapering off this afternoon. White urged residents who evacuated to areas outside of Wilmington to remain where they are.

Meanwhile, nearly 97,500 Duke Energy customers out of the more than 127,400 served in New Hanover County were estimated to be out of power as of 2 p.m. Sunday. This is down from an estimated 112,000 on Saturday.

Duke Energy Progress did not have an estimated time of power restoration in New Hanover County on Sunday.

Duke Energy officials said Sunday that road debris and road flooding has made it difficult for crews to get out into the area to do damage assessments. Crews have been working as conditions allow, Duke officials added.

Duke Energy is estimating that an update could be available Monday afternoon.

“I would hope by that by that point we would be able to tell if we could get crews in the area to do the damage assessments,” a Duke Energy spokesperson said.

Between North Carolina and South Carolina, the power utility company has sent out more than 20,000 workers for its service areas. Officials said it could be the largest response in Duke Energy history.

Like area residents and businesses, the Wilmington International Airport was still without power Sunday. Some of its backup generators were not operational, Gary Broughton, deputy airport director, said Sunday afternoon.

The airport was servicing emergency helicopters at the time and fixed-wing aircraft at Air Wilmington, but ILM was still closed to commercial flights.

The airport's north-south facing runway was clear and open for fixed-winged aircraft, including private, corporate and military, to land. The airport’s east-west facing runway, its longer runway, was not clear.

The airport's tower also opened Sunday to help aircraft, Broughton said. 

Commercial aircraft, however, is still not able to be serviced at the airport, Broughton said. ILM will continue to be down for commercial aircraft and travelers until it receives two new generators, or parts, that can restore power to the terminal and ILM’s holding room.
 
“We have got to have both [generators] to get this terminal open for business," Broughton said Sunday afternoon.