Hurricane Florence is at present reported having claimed the lives of four civilians throughout North Carolina, including an infant. The first casualties were reported after a large tree toppled into a family home in Wilmington at around 9.30 pm Friday morning, according to The Daily Mail. A family of three were crushed by the tree, with a mother and her infant child being fatally wounded. A third man was removed from the scene on a stretcher.
Despite desperate attempts from rescuers to haul the tree off the property, the National Guard had to be called before it could be shifted.
Later on Friday afternoon, according to WRAL.com, at 2.58 pm the storm claimed its third victim when a woman in Pender County suffered a heart attack. Due to the conditions, she was unable to be reached by emergency services in time.
A fourth victim lost their life at around 3:15 pm in Lenoir County while plugging in a generator, a press release from the governor's office confirmed.
Hurricane Florence showing no signs of slowing down
The eye of the storm first made contact with North Carolina's shores early on Friday morning after marking its path across the outer banks and southeastern coast of the state. According to forecasts, it is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
In just a seven day period, it is anticipated that as much as 18 trillion gallons of rainwater will hit Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Maryland and both North and South Carolina.
Officials have warned civilians to stay on alert as the worst is yet to come.
Speaking to ABC news, Wilmington Police Chief Ralph Evangelous stated: "'I see a biblical proportion flood event that's going to occur. I see the beach communities being inundated with water and destruction that will be pretty, pretty epic in nature."
Hurricane Florence leaves 620,000 homes and businesses without power
The latest figures released reveal how at present as many as 620,000 homes and businesses have been left without any electricity.
Around 26,000 evacuees have sought refuge in storm shelters to wait out Florence's devastating destruction. Many of those who ignore evacuation warnings have been left trapped and are currently waiting for rescuers to free them.
Officials have revealed how around midmorning on Friday, in the North Carolina city of New Bern alone, around 200 people had to be rescued from rising waters, as an average 150 more had to wait as conditions worsened and a storm surge reached 10 feet.
The New Bern city spokesperson Colleen Roberts revealed how volunteers are using private boats to pitch in and help, those who have been left stranded.
Speaking to Good Morning America, New Bern Mayor Dana Outlaw stated that Florence "is twice the size of Hurricane Hugo,” which tore through the Carolinas in 1989.
He went on to say that the residents of New Bern "need America's prayers".