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Hurricane Florence: 'Brute' of a storm ravages Carolinas Hurricane Florence: Deadly 'brute' of a storm ravages Carolinas
(about 1 hour later)
Hurricane Florence is ravaging the US East Coast, knocking out power to more than 600,000 homes, causing buildings to crumble and stranding residents. Four people have died as Hurricane Florence mauls the US East Coast, knocking out power to 600,000 homes and causing buildings to crumble.
The centre of the storm made landfall at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, with gales of up to 90mph (150 km/h). A mother and child were killed when a tree fell on their house in Wilmington, North Carolina. The father was transported to hospital with injuries.
A powerful storm surge toppled trees and swamped streets in coastal areas. Dozens of people were rescued from a collapsing hotel in North Carolina. Dozens of people were rescued from a collapsing hotel as a huge storm surge toppled trees and swamped streets.
Evacuation warnings are in place for 1.7 million people.Evacuation warnings are in place for 1.7 million people.
The third fatality was a Pender County, North Carolina, woman who had a medical condition.
She called for emergency assistance, but ambulance workers could not reach her in time because fallen trees blocked their route.
In Lenoir County, a person was killed while plugging in a generator, according to the governor's office.
Florence made landfall at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, on Friday morning as a category one storm.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper told a news conference that whole communities "could be wiped away" by the 400-mile-wide hurricane.North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper told a news conference that whole communities "could be wiped away" by the 400-mile-wide hurricane.
"This is an uninvited brute that just won't leave," he told NBC. "It's an uninvited brute who doesn't want to leave," he said.
The state's transportation secretary, James Trogdon, said the state may see flooding that normally only occurs once every 1,000 years. The state's transportation secretary, James Trogdon, said it may see flooding that normally only occurs once every 1,000 years.
National Weather Service forecaster Brandon Locklear said North Carolina is likely to see eight months of rain in two to three days. Parts of North Carolina have seen storm surges as high as 10ft (3m).
Thousands of miles away 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 a powerful storm has reached the Philippines. More than five million people are in the path of Super Typhoon Mangkhut, officials say.
The North Carolina governor said Florence was likely to "continue its violent grind across the state for days" as it crawls along at just 3mph (4.8km/h). By early afternoon on Friday Florence's winds had weakened to 75mph, and it was expected to gradually weaken further over the weekend.
Forecasters warned the storm surge, together with up to 3.5ft (1m) of rain over the next few days, could spawn a slow-motion disaster of catastrophic flooding. But US officials say it remains extremely dangerous because of potential catastrophic flooding.
There were no immediate reports of any deaths or serious injuries. The North Carolina governor said the hurricane was likely to "continue its violent grind across the state for days" as it crawls along at just 5mph.
But US officials say the tempest remains extremely dangerous because of the high volume of rainfall and predicted deluge, even though its wind speeds lowered slightly on Thursday night, making it a category one hurricane. Forecasters say the storm surge, together with up to 3.5ft (1m) of rain over the next few days, could spawn a slow-motion disaster.
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. Florence 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 shed 33 trillion gallons of rainwater in the US.
More than 620,000 homes and businesses are without power, and energy companies warn up to three million homes and businesses could lose electricity. Nearly 620,000 homes and businesses are without power; energy companies say up to three million homes and businesses could lose electricity.
Officials have warned that restoring electricity could take days or even weeks. Officials have estimated that 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 more than 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 suites amid 75mph winds to reach those inside.As parts of the roof caved in, police had to force their way into some suites 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.
Parts of New Bern, North Carolina, which is home to 30,000 people, are 10ft underwater. Parts of New Bern, North Carolina, which is home to 30,000 people, were 10ft underwater.
Several hundred residents of the riverfront city have been plucked to safety by authorities. At least 200 householders in the riverfront city had to be plucked to safety by authorities.
Local resident Peggy Perry told CNN she was "stuck in the attic" along with three relatives.Local resident Peggy Perry told CNN she was "stuck in the attic" along with three relatives.
"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 people against entering attics, so as to avoid drowning, unless they have a means to cut through to the roof.
More than 20,000 people are meanwhile taking refuge in emergency shelters. Tom Balance, owner of a seafood restaurant in New Bern, decided not to evacuate and had to be rescued by police.
"I feel like the dumbest human being who ever walked the face of the earth," he told AP news agency.
More than 20,000 people have been taking refuge in emergency shelters.
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?
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.
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.
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