Coffins rounded up in flood-stricken area

(Tarboro, North Carolina-AP) -- The Coast Guard is facing a grim<br>chore in flood-stricken parts of North Carolina: It's trying to<br>snag as many as 100 coffins cast adrift from cemeteries inundated<br>by

Friday, September 24th 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Tarboro, North Carolina-AP) -- The Coast Guard is facing a grim
chore in flood-stricken parts of North Carolina: It's trying to
snag as many as 100 coffins cast adrift from cemeteries inundated
by the Tar River.

With Princeville still under as much as 30 feet of water, Coast
Guard crews spent the day rounding up airtight caskets that popped
to the surface as cemeteries became saturated.

Rescue crews are also using dogs trained to detect bodies to
search for victims of the fast-rising river.

At least 42 deaths have been attributed to Hurricane Floyd in
eastern North Carolina. Authorities fear the numbers could rise as
floodwaters continue to recede.

Emergency management officials say 27-hundred people remain in
24 shelters.