VANCEBORO, N.C. -- The floodwaters continue to rise in Vanceboro, but Mitch Townsend started before Hurricane Matthew arrived preparing for the high waters.
"We started moving furniture. Quick! They said it was going to be a bad one," said Townsend.
"Well, I mean, we've cleaned out one trailer down there, my sister-in-laws, and that's pretty much it. My house is about 12 foot off the ground, so I'm pretty good," said Townsend.
The only way to get to his house and others is by boat after Swift Creek overflowed, bringing in five feet of water during the storm.
Residents had to evacuate.
"Our fire department does a great job. We got a Swift Water Rescue that's coordinated through the Craven County Emergency Management office. All the homes have been elevated, but I think most of them came out yesterday," said Chad Braxton, mayor of Vanceboro.
Officials said parts of Vanceboro are now islands with roads now turned into rivers.
"River Road, I think, is in the process of shutting some areas down there. Over on Piney Neck Road and State Camp Road...they are kinda stuck sort of speak," said Braxton.
"As far as the height of it, being at its max, we hope numbers are less than what was predicted," said Braxton.
It's a situation that may not get any better any time soon.
"Everything is pretty much at a standstill. Like I said, it raised up about three or four inches last night, but it's not doing a whole lot, coming in now. Maybe it'll just go on and get out. So, I don't know. All we can do is wait," said Townsend.