As Florence moves west, North Carolina prepares for recovery

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The end of the storm known as Florence is still several days away, but emergency officials already are thinking about the North Carolina recovery.

Nonprofit groups are preparing to serve tens of thousands of meals daily in the most-damaged areas. And state and federal emergency officials are locating temporary housing, including hotel rooms, for storm victims as shelters close.

About 20,000 people are staying in more than 150 shelters. Many of them won’t be able to go back home for good soon because their homes are unlivable.

The recovery is likely to take at least as long as for Hurricane Matthew, which crossed North Carolina nearly two years ago.