Hurricane Florence made landfall Friday morning and already its devastation has caused three deaths.
In two separate incidents, two women and an infant died in N.C. on Friday, marking the first three deaths caused by the hurricane’s devastation.
In Wilmington, N.C., a woman an infant died after a tree fell on their home and trapped them under the rubble.
At 11:31 a.m. Friday, Wilmington Police tweeted: “WPD is on the scene of an incident involving a tree that fell on a house on Mercer Avenue. People are believed to be inside. We have no update on the status of their conditions at this time. We will release details as they become available.”
Three hours later, they tweeted again with the details: “WPD can confirm the first two fatalities of Hurricane #Florence in Wilmington. A mother and infant were killed when a tree fell on their house. The father was transported to NHRMC with injuries.”
WPD can confirm the first two fatalities of Hurricane #Florence in Wilmington. A mother and infant were killed when a tree fell on their house. The father was transported to NHRMC with injuries. https://t.co/FC5PAhuxig
— Wilmington Police (@WilmingtonPD) September 14, 2018
The home collapsed under the weight of the tree, killing the mother and infant. The father’s injuries are unknown at this time.
Video shows rescuers outside the home working quickly to cut the tree away from the home, while a family member is consoled in the street. A man is also shown receiving care on a stretcher outside an ambulance.
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
In Hampstead, N.C. a woman died from a heart attack Friday morning, Pender County Emergency Management Director Tom Collins confirmed to WWAY News.
Emergency personnel were unable to get to the woman’s home due to fallen trees blocking the road. The front loader crews were using to clear the roads was damaged when a tree went through its windshield.
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
The town suspended cleanup operations until conditions improve. A 7 p.m. curfew was issued to area residents.
Many areas in the Carolinas remain under tornado warnings and watches. The storm is currently moving at five mph, and is expected to slowly spread its devastation over the Carolinas throughout the weekend.
As much as 40 inches of rainfall is expected in some areas, according to a CNN report Friday.
