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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, knocking out power to half a million homes and causing buildings to crumble. | 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. Dozens of people were rescued from a collapsing hotel in North Carolina overnight. | 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 1.7 million people. | Evacuation warnings are in place for 1.7 million people. |
| North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said surviving the storm would be a test of "endurance, teamwork, common sense and patience". | North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper 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," he told NBC on Friday. |
| At a news conference later in the day, he said whole communities "could be wiped away". | |
| 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. |
| Conditions deteriorated on Friday as slow-moving Hurricane Florence crawled along at 6mph (9.5km/ h). | Conditions deteriorated on Friday as slow-moving Hurricane Florence crawled along at 6mph (9.5km/ h). |
| Its wind speeds had lowered slightly on Thursday night, making it a category one hurricane. | Its wind speeds had lowered slightly on Thursday night, 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. | But the National Hurricane Center says the tempest remains extremely dangerous because of the high volume of rainfall and predicted storm surges. |
| By Friday morning, the North Carolina coastal town of Atlantic Beach had already received 30in (76cm) of rain, the US Geological Service said. | By Friday morning, the North Carolina coastal town of Atlantic Beach had already received 30in (76cm) of rain, the US Geological Service said. |
| 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. |
| Hurricane Harvey last year dumped some 33 trillion gallons of rainwater in the US. | Hurricane Harvey last year dumped some 33 trillion gallons of rainwater in the US. |
| More than 505,000 homes and businesses are already without power, and energy companies warn up to three million homes and businesses could lose electricity. | |
| Officials have warned restoring electricity could take days or even weeks. | Officials have warned restoring electricity could take days or even weeks. |
| 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. | 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. | Parts of New Bern, North Carolina, are 10ft (3m) underwater and householders were waiting to be rescued, authorities there said. |
| Officials said several hundred 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. | 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. | "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. | Officials have warned against entering attics, unless people have a means to cut through to the roof to avoid drowning. |
| 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? | Is global warming to blame? |
| The relationship between climate change and hurricanes is a complex one. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| You can also contact us in the following ways: | You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |