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Hurricane Florence: Life-threatening storm lands in North Carolina Hurricane Florence: Life-threatening storm lands in North Carolina
(35 minutes later)
Hurricane Florence has made landfall on the US East Coast, bringing with it winds, heavy rains and potentially "catastrophic" floods. Hurricane Florence has made landfall on the US East Coast, knocking out power to half a million homes and causing buildings to crumble.
The centre of the storm struck Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina, with gales of up to 90mph (150 km/h).The centre of the storm struck Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina, with gales of up to 90mph (150 km/h).
Rains and surging seas have already inundated coastal areas. Scores of people are currently waiting to be rescued in the city of New Bern. Rains and surging seas have already inundated coastal areas. Dozens of people were rescued from a collapsing hotel in North Carolina overnight.
Evacuation warnings are in place for more than a million people. Evacuation warnings are in place for 1.7 million people.
Over half a million power outages have been reported across North Carolina, according to the state's emergency management agency. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said surviving the storm would be a test of "endurance, teamwork, common sense and patience".
The governor of North Carolina said surviving the storm would be a test of "endurance, teamwork, common sense, and patience". "This is an uninvited brute that just won't leave," he told NBC on Friday.
"This is an uninvited brute that just won't leave," Roy Cooper told NBC on Friday.
National Weather Service forecaster Brandon Locklear said North Carolina is likely to see eight months of rain in two to three days.National Weather Service forecaster Brandon Locklear said North Carolina is likely to see eight months of rain in two to three days.
Thousands of miles away, meanwhile, a huge typhoon is moving towards the Philippines. More than five million people are in the path of Super Typhoon Mangkhut, officials say.Thousands of miles away, meanwhile, a huge typhoon is moving towards the Philippines. More than five million people are in the path of Super Typhoon Mangkhut, officials say.
What are the dangers? Conditions deteriorated on Friday as slow-moving Hurricane Florence crawled along at 6mph (9.5km/ h).
Conditions have deteriorated throughout Friday as the storm crawls along at 6mph (9.5km/ h). Some areas of North Carolina saw almost a foot of rain just a few hours, and footage showed sea levels begin to surge in land. Its wind speeds had lowered slightly on Thursday night, making it a category one hurricane.
On Thursday night the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said wind speeds had slightly lowered, making it a category one hurricane. But the National Hurricane Center says the tempest remains extremely dangerous because of the high volume of rainfall and predicted storm surges.
The NHC says that despite the gradual lowering in wind strength, the storm remains extremely dangerous because of the high volume of rainfall and storm surges predicted. By Friday morning, the North Carolina coastal town of Atlantic Beach had already received 30in (76cm) of rain, the US Geological Service said.
"Inland flooding kills a lot of people, unfortunately, and that's what we're about to see," said Brock Long, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema).
He said that people living near rivers, streams and lowland areas in the region were most at risk.
The storm is forecast to dump about 18 trillion gallons of rainwater on US soil, most of it in North Carolina, meteorologist Ryan Maue tweeted.The storm is forecast to dump about 18 trillion gallons of rainwater on US soil, most of it in North Carolina, meteorologist Ryan Maue tweeted.
In 2017 Hurricane Harvey dumped some 33 trillion gallons of rainwater in the US. Hurricane Harvey last year dumped some 33 trillion gallons of rainwater in the US.
How are people coping? More than 497,000 homes and businesses are already without power, and energy companies warn up to three million homes and businesses could lose electricity.
More than a million people have been ordered to leave the coasts of the Carolinas and Virginia, with more than 20,000 taking refuge in emergency shelters. Officials have warned restoring electricity could take days or even weeks.
Asked what she was most worried about, Monica Scott, a young mother who had brought her children to a shelter in North Carolina, said: "Not having a place to go home to, or a job."
Not everyone, though, has obeyed the warnings.
Queues were reported outside a branch of Waffle House in the port city of Wilmington, North Carolina. The restaurant is used as a measure of how bad storms are.
A man in North Carolina said he would stay with his dog, since shelters were not taking pets. "I'm not leaving him here," Antonio Ramirez told the AFP news agency,
More than 487,000 homes and businesses are already without power, but energy companies warn up to three million homes and businesses could lose electricity.
Officials have warned restoring electricity could take days or even weeks. Petrol stations in the area are also reporting shortages.
Parts of New Bern, North Carolina, are 10ft (3m) underwater and 150 people were waiting to be rescued, authorities there said.
Davice Daniels from the New Bern Police Department said those unable to leave their homes should move up to higher floors.
But officials warn against entering attics, unless people have a means to cut through to the roof to avoid drowning.
In Jacksonville, North Carolina, officials rescued about 60 people overnight from a hotel that was collapsing in the storm.In Jacksonville, North Carolina, officials rescued about 60 people overnight from a hotel that was collapsing in the storm.
Emergency workers arrived to find the Triangle Motor Inn's structure crumbling, with many guests still in their rooms.Emergency workers arrived to find the Triangle Motor Inn's structure crumbling, with many guests still in their rooms.
As parts of the roof caved in, police had to force their way into some rooms amid 75mph winds to reach those inside.As parts of the roof caved in, police had to force their way into some rooms amid 75mph winds to reach those inside.
All of the occupants, who included children and pets, were safely rescued.All of the occupants, who included children and pets, were safely rescued.
More than 20,000 people are meanwhile taking refuge in emergency shelters.
Parts of New Bern, North Carolina, are 10ft (3m) underwater and householders were waiting to be rescued, authorities there said.
New Bern Police Lieutenant David Daniels said on Friday morning that between 150 and 200 people had been plucked to safety.
Local resident Peggy Perry told CNN she was "stuck in the attic" along with three relatives in her New Bern home.
"In a matter of seconds, my house was flooded up to the waist, and now it is to the chest," she added.
Officials have warned against entering attics, unless people have a means to cut through to the roof to avoid drowning.
Over 1,100 flights have been cancelled, according to FlightAware.com, as most of the coastal region's airports are closed to ride out the storm.Over 1,100 flights have been cancelled, according to FlightAware.com, as most of the coastal region's airports are closed to ride out the storm.
At the White House, President Donald Trump has been retweeting local emergency officials' updates and tips for surviving the storm.At the White House, President Donald Trump has been retweeting local emergency officials' updates and tips for surviving the storm.
How long will this last?How long will this last?
Latest predictions show the storm slowing to a near standstill as it pummels the coast with "copious amounts of rain" from Thursday night to Saturday.Latest predictions show the storm slowing to a near standstill as it pummels the coast with "copious amounts of rain" from Thursday night to Saturday.
Wind speeds are only expected to weaken on Saturday as the storm moves slowly across land.Wind speeds are only expected to weaken on Saturday as the storm moves slowly across land.
More than a dozen counties in North Carolina are under a tornado watch, with officials also warning of a chance of hail.More than a dozen counties in North Carolina are under a tornado watch, with officials also warning of a chance of hail.
Is global warming to blame?
The relationship between climate change and hurricanes is a complex one.
Warmer seas power hurricanes. So as the temperature of ocean water goes up, we might expect the intensity of hurricanes to increase in future.
A hotter atmosphere can also hold more water, so this should allow hurricanes to dump more water on affected areas.
But there are so many factors that contribute to these rare events, it has been difficult to tease out clear trends from the data.
Are you in the area? How are you preparing for the hurricane? If it is safe to do so please tell us about your situation by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in the area? How are you preparing for the hurricane? If it is safe to do so please tell us about your situation by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist.Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist.
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