Emergency boat crews have rescued hundreds of people from floodwaters and helicopters have plucked others from rooftops in North Carolina as former hurricane Matthew flooded much of the US south-east before weakening and heading out to sea.
Matthew, the most powerful Atlantic storm since 2007, has now been downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone after its rampage through the Caribbean killed nearly 900 people in Haiti. Seventeen people have died in the US and more than two million homes and business lost power.
The National Hurricane Center says the storm continued moving out to sea on Sunday and says the centre of the storm is now about 240 kilometres off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
Although Matthew lost its tropical characteristics, the storm still packed hurricane force winds as far as 110km from the centre and tropical-storm-force winds 390km away.
The US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is warning about flash floods, the leading cause of weather-related deaths.
Officials said many coastal and inland communities are still under water, either from coastal storm surge or overrun rivers and creeks, with downed power lines and damaged homes presenting dangerous conditions.
US President Barack Obama declared a state of emergency in Georgia and Florida, freeing up federal money to help the states repair damaged infrastructure and remove debris.
In North Carolina, where at least eight people died, Governor Pat McCrory pleaded for outside help, asking the country not to be too distracted by the US presidential campaign, currently transfixed by a 2005 video of Republican nominee Donald Trump making vulgar comments about women.
"We need your help," McCrory said.
Florida reported five storm-related deaths, Georgia three and South Carolina one.
McCrory said 334 rescue workers carried out 877 rescues overnight.
In one of the dramatic rescues in North Carolina, out-of-state firefighters helped save three people from the roof of an SUV in inland Cumberland County, where more than 500 rescues took place.
Flash flooding turned a creek into a "roaring, raging river" that swept the vehicle off the roadway on Saturday night, said Battalion Chief Joe Downey of the Fire Department of New York. He was part of a team from three states that carried out 64 rescues on Saturday night and Sunday morning.
McCrory also told of seeing video of the Coast Guard rescuing several people from a roof by helicopter.
He reported at least one other helicopter rescue where boats could not reach the home.
