A ninth person has died in South Carolina because of Hurricane Florence bringing the total death toll for the massive storm and its subsequent record-shattering flooding to 42 people.The South Carolina state public safety department said in a Twitter message Thursday evening that the body of an 81-year-old man was found in a pickup truck submerged in water in Dillon county.

Highway patrol corporal Sonny Collins said the pickup ran off state highway 57, crashed and ended up in the water. Corner Donnie Grimsley said Friday morning that he’s still working to contact the victim’s family before he releases the name. Florence is blamed for at least 42 deaths in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Well over half of those killed were in vehicles.

In North Carolina, many people have started returning to flooded homes as the rivers receded. They were met by silty mud on walls and floors, blown out windows and terrible odors. South Carolina governor Henry McMaster estimated his state has already suffered $1.2bn in damage. He asked Congress for help. North Carolina governor Roy Cooper says the state is still tallying its storm damage, but says it will be in the billions.(theguardian)…[+]