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Hurricane Florence: Life-threatening storm starts to lash Carolinas | Hurricane Florence: Life-threatening storm starts to lash Carolinas |
(35 minutes later) | |
Tens of thousands of homes are without power and sea water is sloshing through coastal streets as Hurricane Florence begins lashing the US East Coast. | Tens of thousands of homes are without power and sea water is sloshing through coastal streets as Hurricane Florence begins lashing the US East Coast. |
The hurricane is moving towards land with maximum sustained wind speeds of 90mph (150 km/h). | The hurricane is moving towards land with maximum sustained wind speeds of 90mph (150 km/h). |
It lost power as it approached North and South Carolina, but officials warn it could still kill "a lot of people" with risks of "catastrophic" flooding. | It lost power as it approached North and South Carolina, but officials warn it could still kill "a lot of people" with risks of "catastrophic" flooding. |
Evacuation orders are in place for more than a million people. | Evacuation orders are in place for more than a million people. |
The governor of North Carolina, where Florence is expected to make landfall at noon local time on Friday, said surviving the storm would be a test of "endurance, teamwork, common sense, and patience". | The governor of North Carolina, where Florence is expected to make landfall at noon local time on Friday, said surviving the storm would be a test of "endurance, teamwork, common sense, and patience". |
"The first bands of the storm are upon us but we have days more to go," Roy Cooper said. | "The first bands of the storm are upon us but we have days more to go," Roy Cooper said. |
National Weather Service forecaster Brandon Locklear said North Carolina is likely to see eight months' worth of rain in two to three days. | National Weather Service forecaster Brandon Locklear said North Carolina is likely to see eight months' worth of rain in two to three days. |
What are the dangers? | |
Conditions deteriorated throughout Thursday. 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. | Conditions deteriorated throughout Thursday. 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. |
At 23:00 local time (03:00 GMT) the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said wind speeds had slightly lowered, making it a category one hurricane. | At 23:00 local time (03:00 GMT) the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said wind speeds had slightly lowered, making it a category one hurricane. |
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. | 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. |
"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). | "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. | He said that people living near rivers, streams and lowland areas in the region were most at risk. |
How bad is it expected to get? | How bad is it expected to get? |
The latest weather predictions show the storm slowing to a near standstill as it pummels the coast with "copious amounts of rain" from Thursday night to Saturday. | The latest weather 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. |
Meteorologists have warned floodwaters may rise up to 13ft (4m) in areas as some rivers see their flows "reversed". | Meteorologists have warned floodwaters may rise up to 13ft (4m) in areas as some rivers see their flows "reversed". |
Parts of the Carolina coast are expecting 20-30in (50-75cm) of rain, with isolated regions receiving up to 40in of downpour. | Parts of the Carolina coast are expecting 20-30in (50-75cm) of rain, with isolated regions receiving up to 40in of downpour. |
More than 100,000 are already without power, but energy companies warn up to three million homes and businesses could also lose power. | |
Officials have warned restoring electricity could take days or even weeks. | Officials have warned restoring electricity could take days or even weeks. |
Petrol stations in the area are reporting shortages. | |
Over 1,400 flights have been cancelled, according to FlightAware.com, as most of the coastal region's airports are closed to ride out the storm. | Over 1,400 flights have been cancelled, according to FlightAware.com, as most of the coastal region's airports are closed to ride out the storm. |
Emergency workers are arriving from other parts of the US to aid in rescues. | Emergency workers are arriving from other parts of the US to aid in rescues. |
The Coast Guard has shallow-water response boats ready to help trapped residents. | The Coast Guard has shallow-water response boats ready to help trapped residents. |
How are people coping? | |
More than one million people have been ordered to leave the coasts of the Carolinas and Virginia, with more than 12,000 taking refuge in emergency shelters. | |
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. | |
Are you in the area? How are you preparing for the hurricane? Let us know by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the area? How are you preparing for the hurricane? Let us know by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |