Chapel Hill, NC to Cocoa Beach, FL *RIGHT NOW*

I am flummoxed. The need for speed is alluded too. But you are talking about going through an area that has just had a horrendous natural disaster with road conditions that are very poor, with services that may be non existent and delays that could cost a day or 2 of travel time . But you say your family member has only days to live.
WTF get going and stay away from the disaster

US 1 is washed out in 2 places in SC may be repaired by 10/20. If you go to scdot.gov and look at press releases on 10/9 it will show a map of all major roads closed. We are headed to Florida on Tues, take I-95 to I-20 to Columbia and pick up I-26 back to I-95

I really don't know other than scdot web site. But from what I'm reading there are hundreds of roads closed or washed out in and around Columbia SC, if it Were me I would do the interstate and just take it at your pace

Thanks! I have an old rig and like to avoid the Interstates (or maybe in this case that would be a very bad idea?) How can I find information regarding RT 1 from Chapel Hill, NC to Columbia SC and then RT 321 Columbia to Savannah?

My understanding is that I95 south is closed I20 to I26. I would suggest I85 to I77 down to I26 down to I 95 and on in to Coca Beach. Not as long as going to Atlanta then I75.

You should be fine going thIs route. A lot of info and posts on road conditions. Just stay away from I95 between I20 & I26

Have a safe trip and hug your brother

I don't know what the current conditions are for I-95, some people here have reported that there is at least one bridge out. Just divert around it, take I-85 to I-77 and stay on that until you can pick up I-20. At Augusta it looks like you could take US 25 to I-95 in north Georgia.

so go 91 to 84 to 81 to 40 towards Knoxville and then75 south and miss all the mess. It is LOnger if you do not run into problems on 95 but much shorter time wise if you run into a closed road or repairs. according to my mapping software the route adds about 6 hours driving time to your trip.
You could also call the air lines and see if they have a last minute bereavement fare.