In North Carolina, an American ritual as floods hit poorest towns hardest

In towns such as Lumberton and Goldsboro, America's economic and racial inequality is brought to the fore

Amid the cluster of uniformed officials, flashing lights and shallow-bottomed boats in downtown Lumberton on Sunday afternoon, six figures stood out.

Patrice Carmichael, Clarence Hargrove and three of their children were walking slowly through the driving rain, pushing their four-month-old baby in a stroller and hauling a shopping trolley filled with clothing and food.