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• The latest on Hurricane Florence:

  • The massive storm made landfall in Wrightsville Beach, N.C.
  • The Cat. 1 storm, with winds of 90 mph, is moving west at 6 mph

  • It is forecasted to stall onshore for several days
  • Florence is expected to dump as much as 40 in. of rain in some areas
  • “Catastrophic” flooding is expected over portions of the Carolinas
  • Forecasters predict a “life threatening” storm surge of 9 to 13 feet
  • At least 150 people are awaiting rescue in New Bern, N.C.

  • More than 300,000 people are without power

  • President Trump thanked FEMA and first responders on the “incredible job being done.”

   

  Rescue workers from Township No. 7 Fire Department and volunteers use a truck to transport people rescued from their flooded homes during Hurricane Florence in James City, N.C., on Friday. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

  

  

  7 minutes ago

  Dylan Stableford

  FEMA: Call before you tweet — and don’t try to be a hero

  At a 9:30 a.m. ET press briefing, FEMA officials urged those stranded by the storm to call 911 — rather than use social media — to request rescues.

  FEMA administrator Brock Long added that while volunteers are appreciated, the agency has more than 11,000 search and rescue personnel on the ground and do not need civilians compounding rescue efforts.

• High winds and storm surge from Hurricane Florence hits Swansboro N.C., on Friday. (Photo: Tom Copeland/AP)

  

• Volunteers help rescue three children from their flooded home in James City, N.C., on Friday. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

  

  FEMA

  ✔@fema

  Incredibly important to remember: areas far from the coast are also at risk of severe flooding. Now’s the time to make sure you are getting weather alerts and following your local @NWS office. #Florence

  NWS

  ✔@NWS

  This storm will be a marathon vs. a sprint. In addition to the ongoing, dangerous storm surge and flash flooding, will be a long-term river flood threat WELL INLAND as very heavy rainfall continues to fall in the coming days. Consult http://weather.gov  for the latest.

  

   

  Volunteers help rescue three children from their flooded home in James City, N.C., on Friday. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

  
• View image on Twitter

  

  This storm will be a marathon vs. a sprint. In addition to the ongoing, dangerous storm surge and flash flooding, will be a long-term river flood threat WELL INLAND as very heavy rainfall continues to fall in the coming days. Consult http://weather.gov  for the Jamie Thompson walks through flooded sections of East Front Street in New Bern, N.C., on Thursday. (Gray Whitley/Sun Journal via AP)

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  NC Emergency Managem

  ✔@NCEmergency

  #FlorenceNC safety tips:
  – STAY INDOORS. Do not venture out during the storm.
  – Do NOT drive or walk through stagnant or moving floodwaters.
  – If your power goes out, do NOT operate gas powered generators or charcoal grills in or near your home.
  – Have your emergency kit ready!

  Residents walk in flooded streets as the Neuse River floods its banks during Hurricane Florence in New Bern, N.C., on Thursday. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

  

  Hundreds rescued overnight

  The Associated Press reports that more than 60 people “had to be pulled from a collapsing motel at the height of the storm, and many more who defied evacuation orders were hoping to be rescued.” Per CNN, more than 200 people were rescued overnight in total, while at least 150 remain stranded in New Bern, N.C., where a 12-foot storm surge was expected. First responders are waiting for conditions to improve before resuming rescue efforts.

  High winds and storm surge from Hurricane Florence hits Swansboro N.C., on Friday. (Photo: Tom Copeland/AP)

  

   

  

  NWS Charleston, SC

  ✔@NWSCharlestonSC

  Winds are gradually increasing here in Southeast SC and Southeast GA…what time can we start feeling winds reaching near tropical storm strength? #Florence is moving very slowly westerly at only 6mph along the NC coast so it will won’t be a few more hours. #scwx #gawx

  • Mindy Katzman

    Russ Lewis covers his eyes from a gust of wind and a blast of sand as Hurricane Florence approaches Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Friday. (Photo: David Goldman/AP)

    

     

    South Carolinians urged to evacuate while they still can

    As the slow-moving storm churns along the North Carolina coast, officials are urging residents of South Carolina to get out of low-lying areas while there’s still time — especially the “frail” and elderly.

    “If you are frail or you need medical attention, the best thing to do is to not be in the area where the storm is,” Charleston County EMS Director David Abrams told the Post & Courier newspaper. “Be in a place where you can get the services you are accustomed to, for the health and safety of you and your family.”

• Russ Lewis looks for shells along the beach as Hurricane Florence approaches Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Friday. (Photo: David Goldman/AP)

  

  Michael Nelson floats in a boat made from a metal tub and fishing floats after the Neuse River went over its banks and flooded his street during Hurricane Florence in New Bern, N.C. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

  

   

  Portions of a boat dock and boardwalk are destroyed by powerful wind and waves as the outer bands of Hurricane Florence arrive in Atlantic Beach, N.C., on Thursday. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

  

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  National Hurricane Center

  ✔@NHC_Atlantic

  Hurricane #Florence Advisory 60A: Florence Makes Landfall Near Wrightsville Beach North Carolina. http://go.usa.gov/W3H 

  

  

  NASA SPoRT

  ✔@NASA_SPoRT

  Per @NHC_Atlantic, #Hurricane #Florence made landfall near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina at 7:15 AM EDT (1115 UTC) with estimated maximum winds of 90 mph (150 km/h), and a minimum central pressure estimate of 958 mb (28.29″). (@NOAA GOES-East imagery)

  #HurricaneFlorence has made landfall near Wrightsville Beach NC. http://hurricanes.gov 

  National Hurricane Center

  ✔@NHC_Atlantic

  NEW: #Hurricane #Florence has made landfall near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina at 7:15 AM EDT (1115 UTC) with estimated maximum winds of 90 mph (150 km/h), and a minimum central pressure estimate of 958 mb (28.29″). http://hurricanes.gov 

  

   

  NWS Charleston, SC

  ✔@NWSCharlestonSC

  #Florence officially makes landfall near Wrightsville Beach, NC at 7:15AM this morning with gusts near 90mph recorded at Johnny Mercer Pier. Details from the National Hurricane Center here…https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCUAT1+shtml/141134.shtml …
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  National Hurricane Center

  ✔@NHC_Atlantic

  NEW: #Hurricane #Florence has made landfall near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina at 7:15 AM EDT (1115 UTC) with estimated maximum winds of 90 mph (150 km/h), and a minimum central pressure estimate of 958 mb (28.29″). http://hurricanes.gov 

  Stay safe and shelter away from windows on the lowest floor that’s not subject to flooding. If you get trapped in a flooded building, go to the highest floor but do NOT enter a closed attic.

  Call 911 If you need rescue.#Florence

  SCEMD

  ✔@SCEMD

  #Florence is coming. Make your #Hurricane flood plan now. If you have time, move essential items to an upper level. If water begins rising, move quickly to higher ground.

   

  Residents ‘trapped on roofs and in vehicles’

  Officials in New Bern, N.C., said early Friday that at least 150 people are stranded by floodwaters and awaiting rescue there.

  “I would say certain areas of New Bern are very desperate,” Craven County spokeswoman Amber Parker told ABC News. “There are people that can be trapped in water, in vehicles, on roofs. That’s just the situation for anyone.”

  First responders and the volunteer Cajun Navy are waiting for conditions to improve before attempting rescues.

  The city’s Twitter feed urged those trapped in their homes to “move up to the second story, or to your attic,” adding: “WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU.
• HAARP

  Currently ~150 awaiting rescue in New Bern. We have 2 out-of-state FEMA teams here for swift water rescue. More are on the way to help us. WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU. You may need to move up to the second story, or to your attic, but WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU. #FlorenceNC