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Hurricane Florence: Carolinas brace for 'catastrophic' flooding – live updates Hurricane Florence makes landfall in North Carolina – live updates
(35 minutes later)
Khushbu Shah is in Wilmington where Florence’s powerful eye wall is making landfall.
She says windows are rattling and rain is pounding in 2-3 minute increments at the hotel windows.
Nearby, Waffle House employees are putting on rain boots, lighting up the hotel lobby with flashlights and are heading out to serve limited menu breakfasts as Florence makes landfall. They’re saying the one downtown is opening soon.
2:09a.m. the power went out in the hotel. Around 4:30a.m. A loud pop and the street lights went off. The sign next from Picasso Pawns flew off in the middle of the night.
Plants are flying out of pots outside. Only cars on the road are news crews and police.”
Hurricane #Florence rips off gas station canopy in Wilmington, North Carolina, as tropical-storm-force winds extending almost 200 miles pound the Carolina coastline. https://t.co/oOidzZKS4K pic.twitter.com/uV1sAoIQZN
Wilmington mayor Bill Saffo moments ago speaking to CNN by phone:
The entire city’s out of power ... I’ve lived here all my life. I have never seen a hurricane that is literally going to be with us for two days.”
The storm officially made landfall near Wrightsville Beach, NC at 7:15AM this morning with gusts near 90mph recorded.
Half of the eye is onshore, so it's official: #HurricaneFlorence has made landfall. pic.twitter.com/YK0vOndxxH
There are now nearly 380,000 without power in North Carolina now according to the state Department of Public Safety, a number which could skyrocket in to the millions by days end.
BAM! 380,000+ with no power in North Carolina. And #Florence has much more ahead. @wsbtv #StormWatchon2 pic.twitter.com/51QZBnfBGf
The South East Regional Climate Centre says Wilmington, North Carolina, where Florence will shortly make landfall, has experienced winds of 92mph, the highest recorded there since 1960.
It’s way too early to assess the dollar damage of Florence, but with the current levels of rainfall and storm surge, it won’t be surprising if Florence ends up among the most expensive US hurricanes ever.It’s way too early to assess the dollar damage of Florence, but with the current levels of rainfall and storm surge, it won’t be surprising if Florence ends up among the most expensive US hurricanes ever.
The number of homes without power appears to be rising every minute, according to a constantly updated ticker from North Carolina Department of Public Safety.The number of homes without power appears to be rising every minute, according to a constantly updated ticker from North Carolina Department of Public Safety.
It is now more than 370,000.It is now more than 370,000.
We’re currently in a record stretch for “above normal” hurricane seasons. Due to the intense strength and lengthy duration of Florence, 2018 is already worse than initial expectations.We’re currently in a record stretch for “above normal” hurricane seasons. Due to the intense strength and lengthy duration of Florence, 2018 is already worse than initial expectations.
There’s more here.There’s more here.
Buddy Martinette, Wilmington fire chief has, urged people trapped in their homes in nearby New Bern to stay as high as possible.Buddy Martinette, Wilmington fire chief has, urged people trapped in their homes in nearby New Bern to stay as high as possible.
Speaking to CNN he said his advice to those people was to “go high, stay there and we will get to you as quick as we can”.Speaking to CNN he said his advice to those people was to “go high, stay there and we will get to you as quick as we can”.
He added:He added:
Most of the firefighters right now are hunkered down trying to wait this out till they can get back out of the streets.Most of the firefighters right now are hunkered down trying to wait this out till they can get back out of the streets.
But if there is a life to be saved we go do it. When people stay back in a storm they have to have a very low expectation that somebody is going to be able to come and help them. It is very difficult ...But if there is a life to be saved we go do it. When people stay back in a storm they have to have a very low expectation that somebody is going to be able to come and help them. It is very difficult ...
It will be a few days before the storm is over but recovery will be weeks and months.It will be a few days before the storm is over but recovery will be weeks and months.
The National Weather Service reminds us that landfall occurs when the centre of the eye crosses land.The National Weather Service reminds us that landfall occurs when the centre of the eye crosses land.
We're seeing some erroneous info this AM. #Florence has NOT officially made landfall. A part of the eye wall has made it on land, but landfall is based on when the CENTER of the eye crosses onto land. Official landfall confirmation must & will come from @NHC_Atlantic #ncwx #scwxWe're seeing some erroneous info this AM. #Florence has NOT officially made landfall. A part of the eye wall has made it on land, but landfall is based on when the CENTER of the eye crosses onto land. Official landfall confirmation must & will come from @NHC_Atlantic #ncwx #scwx
More than 320,000 homes are without power in North Carolina, according to the latest stats from North Carolina Department of Public Safety.More than 320,000 homes are without power in North Carolina, according to the latest stats from North Carolina Department of Public Safety.
Several flash flood warnings are in place in North Carolina.Several flash flood warnings are in place in North Carolina.
Flash Flood Warning continues for Washington NC, River Bend NC, Vanceboro NC until 6:45 AM EDT pic.twitter.com/tE7FxF5HhdFlash Flood Warning continues for Washington NC, River Bend NC, Vanceboro NC until 6:45 AM EDT pic.twitter.com/tE7FxF5Hhd
Flash Flood Warning continues for Jacksonville NC, Piney Green NC, Half Moon NC until 8:15 AM EDT pic.twitter.com/XWuwZ0Ce8RFlash Flood Warning continues for Jacksonville NC, Piney Green NC, Half Moon NC until 8:15 AM EDT pic.twitter.com/XWuwZ0Ce8R
We've just issued warnings for 3 locations in the Cape Fear River basin in response to expected heavy rainfall from #Florence. All sites including Fayetteville can expect at least moderate flooding, with serious impacts possible over the next few days. Stay tuned. #ncwx pic.twitter.com/F6eTzeTi3SWe've just issued warnings for 3 locations in the Cape Fear River basin in response to expected heavy rainfall from #Florence. All sites including Fayetteville can expect at least moderate flooding, with serious impacts possible over the next few days. Stay tuned. #ncwx pic.twitter.com/F6eTzeTi3S
Are hurricanes getting worse? Long-term climate trends paint a worrying picture as Daniel Levitt and Niko Kommenda explain.Are hurricanes getting worse? Long-term climate trends paint a worrying picture as Daniel Levitt and Niko Kommenda explain.
The eyewall of Florence is now onshore, and landfall is expected very soon, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center.
Gusts of up to 79mph have been reported and water levels are up to 9ft higher than normal in some parts.
Hurricane #Florence 6 am Update. Florence is about to make landfall near Wilmington, North Carolina. pic.twitter.com/BNdr2sHY0S
Peggy Perry, one of the estimated 150 people trapped in their homes New Bern, North Carolina, has speaking to CNN.
In a matter of seconds my house was flooded up to the waist. And we’re stuck in the attic. There’s four of us.
We’ve been up here for like three or four hours. There’s a little window here that we might have to break up (to get out).
She said she had heard no word from the emergency services about when help will come.
The National Weather Service in Charleston says Florence is about to make landfall in North Carolina near Wilmington.
5am advisory on #Florence still has a high probability of tropical storm winds in the Charleston tri-county area this afternoon through Saturday. Florence is about to make landfall in NC near Wilmington. For the latest go to https://t.co/2xMTnC68op and https://t.co/PwjSyXiS3Z pic.twitter.com/nEZEAfC2SM
Footage purportedly from New Bern, North Carolina, where authorities are attempting to rescue 150 people.
P R A Y 🙏🏾 F O R 🙏🏾 N E W B E R N #NewBern #HurricaneFlorence pic.twitter.com/UEhny4xvue
Strong winds are hitting the North Carolina port city of Wilmington.
Wilmington, NC is now getting the eastern eye wall of Hurricane #Florence. The strongest winds are occurring now A 71 mph gust was just recorded within the past 15 minutes @StephanieAbrams pic.twitter.com/dHt7Xfk05r
Florence has already inundated coastal streets with ocean water and left tens of thousands without power. The onslaught could last for days with large areas flooded by a combination of rising seas and heavy rains.
The coastal city of New Bern is meanwhile attempting to evacuate 150 people trapped by floodwaters and advising them to move higher in their houses.
Currently ~150 awaiting rescue in New Bern. We have 2 out-of-state FEMA teams here for swift water rescue. More are on the way to help us. WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU. You may need to move up to the second story, or to your attic, but WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU. #FlorenceNC
A tornado warning has been issued for parts of inland North Carolina
Tornado Warning including Hollister NC, Centerville NC until 3:30 AM EDT pic.twitter.com/mypV1WRDy1
The US National Hurricane Center has posted its most recent update. Florence has sustained winds of 75mph and gusts of up to 90mph with coastal storm surges reported.
Hurricane #Florence pounding the North Carolina coast. Here is the 3 AM EDT Update. pic.twitter.com/FjGijTcUa9
The NHC has warned of “catastrophic” freshwater flooding expected over portions of the Carolinas as Florence inches closer to the US east coast.
North Carolina governor Roy Cooper has warned of an impending disaster. “The worst of the storm is not yet here but these are early warnings of the days to come,” he said. “Surviving this storm will be a test of endurance, teamwork, common sense and patience.”
Forecasters say the combination of a life-threatening storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland.
At about 2am east coast time, Hurricane Florence is bearing down on the east coat of the US.
The hurricane has been downgraded to a category 1 storm – earlier this week it was a category 4.
More significant weakening was expected over the weekend and into early next week while Florence moves inland
However the slow progress means the hurricane is hovering over the edge of the country, which is experiencing torrential rainfall and life-threatening storm surges
The threat of flooding is set to increase over the next few days
Florence is about 60 miles (95 km) east-southeast of Wilmington, North Carolina with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 kph)
The National Weather Service said that between 20 and 40 inches of rainfall was predicted to fall in some areas, and warned that they “cannot overstate the threat of catastrophic flooding this storm will bring”
The number of people affected by power outages in North Carolina has increased to more than 102,000, according to Emergency Management North Carolina
More than 130 shelters currently operating in North Carolina
The National Weather Service (NWS) has been warning people that Florence will not just affect coastal communities, as warnings come that very few parts of North Carolina will escape torrential rainfall, and that surges will occur along rivers and other bodies of water.
An example of the impact on inland communities is seen in this tweet from the NWS in Greenville, which is in the north-west corner of South Carolina, about as far from the coast as you can get in the state.
They are starting to see outer bands of cloud spinning across their area as a result of Florence, with raining beginning tomorrow as a result of the hurricane.
While the rain from #Florence remains to our east, its outer bands of high cloud have begun to spin across our area. You can see one such band over us right now in this infrared satellite imagery from #GOES16. Rain from #Florence could begin late tomorrow in the Charlotte area. pic.twitter.com/bXDsd3NAQq