Hurricane Florence, which has been downgraded to a category 1 storm, made landfall in the Carolinas on Friday. Forecasters say that the giant storm will be slowly creeping along, stranding local residents with floodwaters and screaming winds.
It has already inundated part of the town of New Bern, NC, the beginning of what could turn into a days-long deluge.
.🌀🌀💦
— leeann0252 (@leeann0252) 14 сентября 2018 г.
A few pictures from early this morning this is close to Wrightsville Beach, and I have some family in New Bern. Everyone stay safe.. It's Windy and it's heading toward my direction.🌀💦Hurricane #Florence has made landfall as a Category 1 storm near Wrightsville Beach, pic.twitter.com/aoPsgui9pn
Videos posted on social media show heavy winds rooting out or splitting trees and blowing tilesoffroofs.
The storm has ripped down power lines in North Carolina, causing outages statewide.
Roy Cooper, North Carolina's governor, said Florence was expected to cover almost all of the state in several feet of water.
Some people view the hurricane as an allegory of what has been happening to the country.
There have been no immediate reports of storm-related deaths or serious injuries but about 70 people have been rescued from a hotel in Jacksonville, North Carolina, after strong winds posed a threat to its structural integrity.