Thousands lost power as rains continue in NC

RALEIGH -- Thousands of North Carolinians lost electrical service as heavy rains and downed trees and windy conditions caused problems as the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida moved off the coast. Duke Energy reported more than 11,000 customers lost service in the Charlotte area, though much of the service had been restored by late Thursday morning. Progress Energy reported only scattered outages in the eastern part of the state. The National Weather Service said Thursday morning that rainfall in the previous 24 hours ranged from less than an inch in Charlotte to nearly 6 inches in New Bern. Some roads were closed across the state by flooding and downed trees. Schools in several districts in the Wilmington area were opening later than usual. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)