Tropical Storm Florence dumped "epic" amounts of rain on North and SC as it trudged inland on Saturday, knocking out power and causing at least eight deaths as flood waters that have devastated many communities kept rising.
Authorities have confirmed those storm-related deaths, including a mother and her infant child who died after a tree fell on their home in New Hanover County, where the storm hit Friday morning with a 105 miles per hour wind gust, the strongest wind in the city since 1958.
Forecasters warned that drenching rains of anywhere from 1 to 3½ feet as the storm crawls westward across North and SC could trigger epic flooding well inland over the next few days.
"The sun rose this morning on an extremely risky situation and it's getting worse", North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said, and called Florence a "thousand-year rain event".
Scientists can't say - yet - that climate change helped make Florence worse.
Storm surge of up to 13 feet will be "life threatening" and rainfall of up to 40 inches will mean "catastrophic" flooding, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Energy Secretary Rick Perry said the USA electricity sector has been well prepared for Hurricane Florence even as hundreds of thousands of homes lose power in the storm. "The station was flying 255 miles over the storm at the time this video was captured".
SC authorities said law enforcement officers were guarding against looting in evacuated areas, while Wilmington set a curfew on Saturday evening in response to looting in one area.
The storm knocked out power as it tore across the northern part of Luzon Island - an area which is home to around 10 million people, many of whom live in flimsy wooden homes.
A 77-year-old in Lenoir County is believed to have died after he was blown away by heavy winds while attempting to check on his hunting dogs, Dail said.
This satellite image provided by NOAA shows Hurricane Florence on the eastern coast of the United States. Image AAP
Over 60 people had to be pulled out of a collapsing motel in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and hundreds were saved as water levels rose.
Crews are planning to assess the damage from the storm Saturday morning, weather permitting.
Homes are boarded up before Hurricane Florence comes ashore in Carolina Beach, N.C.
As Filipinos struggled to cope with the wrath of Super Typhoon Mangkhut on Saturday, people on the other side of the world felt the Atlantic Ocean's deadly rage, in the form of Tropical Storm Florence.
Governor Cooper said there have been "several hundred" rescue operations and "there are still some people they need to get to".
Aerial footage shows flooding and storm damage in New Bern and Nags Head, North Carolina.
Shaken after seeing waves crashing on the Neuse River just outside his house in New Bern, restaurant owner and hurricane veteran Tom Ballance wished he had evacuated. The streets were mostly deserted and some were blocked by fallen trees.
"WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU", the city tweeted around 2 a.m.
She said she called 911, but no one came.
Cooper told ABC News' David Muir that residents should continue to shelter in place, even though Florence is no longer a hurricane, because roads are covered in debris and water, and rescues are still taking place in coastal areas.
US Says Denuclearization Talks Ongoing with N Korea
And it said North Korea is violating sanctions by transferring coal at sea and flouting an arms embargo and financial sanctions. The office opening comes just prior to the third summit between Kim and Moon in Pyongyang next week, from September 18 to 20.
Recommended:
-
Lawrence area residents get the all-clear to go home
The local utility in that area shut down all power in the three towns for the gas lines to be depressurized. A full report on the exact cause may not be complete for up to two years, he said.Duke Energy shuts down nuclear plants in path of Florence
Florence is now a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 110 miles per hour (177 kph), according to the U.S. Emergency diesel generators at both plants operated as designed, and off-site power was restored within 24 hours.Anita Hill responds to allegation against Kavanaugh
Reporters, Ford said, had begun to make contact with her after the anonymous description emerged. Kavanaugh has denied an allegation of sexual misconduct dating to when he was in high school. -
California Psychologist Goes Public with Sex Assault Allegation Against Kavanaugh
But her story leaked as it was reported Feinstein had the letter and was refusing to share it with her Democratic colleagues. The allegation first came to light late last week in the form of an anonymous letter that has been in the possession of Sen.Ronaldo Beats Messi To Top Spot In FIFA 19 Rankings
However, Ronaldo edged out the Barcelona man thanks to his superior pace (90), shooting (93) and physicality (79) ratings. The ratings are based off of player performances from the past year of world football.IPhone XS and iPhone XR - Specs, Prices and More
Apple has done something unusual this year, entirely killing off the 2017 iPhone X in favor of new and shinier models. The firm also reaffirmed its United States dollars 240.00 12-month price target, according to CNBC . -
Clashing with Trump, California governor says to launch climate satellite
Trump announced a year ago that he was withdrawing from the landmark climate accord. He said he was willing to negotiate a new climate change agreement.Pot-smoking Canadians to be barred from US
Buying or working in the marijuana industry might be legal in Canada next month but according to the U.S. The figure was $27.2 billion in 2014, when the country's currency was close to par with the greenback.Man Dead After a Shark Attack in Cape Cod, Police Say
A 26-year old man was tragically killed by what experts believe is the first fatal shark attack in MA in more than 80 years. The local police department is working with the National Park Service and the state police to investigate. -
Gov. McMaster cautions SC residents as Hurricane Florence moves toward state
More than 60 people had to be pulled from a collapsing motel and hundreds more were rescued elsewhere from rising water. About 9,700 National Guard troops and civilians have been deployed, with high-water vehicles, helicopters, and boats.Tropical Storm Warnings for Dominica, Martinique, Guadeloupe
At 500 PM EDT (2100 UTC), the center of Hurricane Florence was located near latitude 30.9 North, longitude 72.5 West. Isaac is the only system that bears monitoring over the next few days from the East Coast of the US's standpoint.Liberty Media's 2021 F1 concept vehicle leaked
At the moment, we've got designs which only lose 20 percent, so they're 80 percent of their performance. Lewis Hamilton is a fan of the proposed new look.