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| Hurricane Florence: Life-threatening storm lands in North Carolina | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Hurricane Florence has made landfall on the US East Coast, bringing with it winds, heavy rains and warnings of "catastrophic" floods. | |
| The centre of the storm struck Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina, with gales of up to 90mph (150 km/h). | |
| Its outer bands have already inundated coastal areas. Scores of people are currently waiting to be rescued in the city of New Bern. | |
| Evacuation warnings are in place for more than a million people. | Evacuation warnings are in place for more than a million people. |
| The governor of North Carolina 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". |
| "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. |
| 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? | 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 are people coping? | How are people coping? |
| More than a million people have been ordered to leave the coasts of the Carolinas and Virginia, with more than 12,000 taking refuge in emergency shelters. | More than a 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." | 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. | 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. | 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, | 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 150,000 people already without power, but energy companies warn up to three million homes and businesses could also lose power. | More than 150,000 people 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. Petrol stations in the area are also reporting shortages. | 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 3m (10 feet) underwater and 150 people are waiting to be rescued, authorities there said. | Parts of New Bern, North Carolina, are 3m (10 feet) underwater and 150 people are 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. | |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 |