Hurricane Florence made landfall as a category one storm and continues to move slowly as predicted, threatening devastating storm surges and flooding.
Over the weekend, the storm is expected to move slowly through the Carolinas while delivering significant rainfall, with as much as 40 inches expected in some areas, according to a CNN report Friday. Some of the storm’s damage can already be seen in photos and videos on the web.
Photos from Friday, the day #HurricaneFlorence made landfall. #Florence https://t.co/OyAFOuwdKU
— FayettevilleObserver (@fayobserver) September 14, 2018
“It’s getting worse,” said North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper. “The storm is going to continue its violent grind across our state for days.”
In New Bern, N.C., over 200 people were rescued from the rapidly rising water, while 150 were left awaiting rescue amid a 10-foot storm surge.
NEW: Video in from our crew in Carolina Beach. High tide and overwash from #HurricaneFlorence causing flooding around Carl Winner Drive. Back side of storm still very dangerous. #FlorenceNC pic.twitter.com/vL58tExIJw
— Jon Evans (@JonEvansWECT) September 14, 2018
The governors of the Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia, and Maryland have all declared a state of emergency.
Director of the National Hurricane Center, Ken Graham, said: “You’re going to have flooding miles and miles inland,” due to storm surges.
As of Friday morning, 620,000 residents in the Carolinas were without power. In response, 4,000 National Guard troops and 40,000 electric workers were deployed.
Mitchell Floor, left, holds a flashlight as Comfort Suites general manager Beth Bratz, center, and employee Dee Branch go to make coffee as Hurricane Florence rages in Wilmington, N.C. Thursday Sept. 14, 2018. The area lost power around 4 a.m. and the facility was running small lights, phone chargers and the coffee machine on a generator. (Chuck Liddy/Raleigh News & Observer/TNS)
Gov. Henry McMaster of S.C. said it could take days, or even weeks to restore power due to harsh conditions preventing workers from accessing the areas they need to reach.
CHECK THIS OUT: Daylight video of Hurricane Florence damage in New Bern, NC, including strong video of vehicles underwater.
THE FIRST ALERT FORECAST >>> https://t.co/Vn2bhol0pM pic.twitter.com/CnIX0DFG4G— WIS News 10 (@wis10) September 14, 2018
Approximately 26,000 residents took refuge in some 200 emergency shelters.
Benjamin Landero tries to shoot video as hurricane force winds pound the Comfort Suites in Wilmington, N.C. Thursday Sept. 14, 2018 as Hurricane Florence makes landfall. (Chuck Liddy/The News & Observer/TNS)
The Wilmington, N.C. airport recorded record wind gusts of 105 mph, the fastest winds recorded in the city since 1958’s Hurricane Helene.
Mandatory evacuations and curfews remain in place for many vulnerable coastal areas.
From Facebook – Salter Path, NC pic.twitter.com/Cr2cqBWx2j
— Elise Clouser (@EliseCCNT) September 14, 2018
Although it’s still too early for death tolls, officials confirmed the first three deaths in two separate incidents on Friday.
One grim video in Wilmington, N.C. showed rescuers outside the home where a mother and an infant reportedly died after they became trapped under a collapsed home. The father was transported to the hospital with unknown injuries.
Terrible video out of Wilmington, N.C. Three people were trapped under a collapsed home. A mother and infant died.
(Credit: Bart Comstock / LSM) pic.twitter.com/1BwdBsmjr2— ABC 13 News – WSET (@ABC13News) September 14, 2018
Another woman in Hampstead, N.C. died from a heart attack Friday morning. Emergency personnel were unable to get to the woman’s home due to fallen trees blocking the road.
A woman in Hampstead died of a heart attack this morning. Pender County Emergency Management said crews could not get to her because of trees in the road. https://t.co/ojhwRDIAIf
— WWAY News (@WWAY) September 14, 2018
Conditions remain severe as areas in the Carolinas battle heavy winds and rains, remaining under tornado warnings and watches.
