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“A lot of roadways are blocked by landslides, bridges, the approaches to those bridges are washed out,” Mr. Chrimes said at the news conference. “It’s going to take time for that access to be restored, make contact with everyone and make sure they have their basic needs taken care of.”

J.R. Miller, 39, said he spoke by FaceTime with his aunt and grandfather, who live in Pilgrim’s Knob, when the rain grew heavier.

He watched as his 79-year-old grandfather tried to haul his beloved power tools to higher ground so they wouldn’t get damaged. Mr. Miller said his family members watched as the Dismal Creek across the street rose and eventually flooded over the road by at least three feet.

“Never in my almost 40 years have I ever seen anything like it,” Mr. Miller recalled about what he saw on FaceTime.

Mr. Miller, who now lives in China Grove, N.C., said that the two relatives started shoving valuables into bags to try to salvage what they could as they realized they needed to get to higher ground. They waded across the street in waist-high water to help a neighbor before making their way to the post office, which was visible from the home.

Once they reached safety, Mr. Miller said, his family were able to send a text letting them know they had made it. They also shared with him that several homes had been washed off their foundations and trucks had been catapulted more than 500 feet down the road by strong currents.