At Least 5 Dead As Florence Brings Heavy Flooding to the Carolinas

Officials say at least five people have died as Tropical Storm Florence's storm center moves inland, leaving rain and devastating floods in its path. 

The tropical storm, which was downgraded from a Category 1 Hurricane on Friday, is moving over South Carolina, with its main bands hanging over an already-inundated North Carolina, setting up more flooding for some areas.

Florence landed Friday morning as a Category 1 hurricane in North Carolina dumping tons of rain and leaving up to 950,000 residents without power there and in neighboring South Carolina. The National Hurricane Center says the storm will continue dumping rain all weekend, as it moves west at about 5 mph with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph. 

“Life-threatening storm surges and strong winds to continue tonight," the NHC said in an update Saturday morning. 

"Florence is moving toward the west-southwest near 5 mph, and a turn toward the west and northwest is expected [Saturday] and Sunday," the NHC said. "Florence is forecast to turn northward through the Ohio Valley by Monday."

"Continual gradual weakening is forecast while Florence moves farther inland during the next couple of days, and it is likely to weaken to a tropical depression by [Saturday night]," the NHC said.

Officials also issued a storm surge warning for Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to Ocrakoke Inlet, North Carolina. Edisto Beach, South Carolina, to Ocrakoke Inlet, North Carolina and Pamlico Sound were all under a tropical storm warning. 

The National Guard and U.S. Army forces are in "ready mode" to provide support to state and local authorities. Equipment like water purification, high water vehicles, and rotary wing aircraft are joined by citizen swift-water rescue crews from out of state who are there to help save people trapped in flooded homes. 

A mother and her infant in Wilmington, North Carolina became the first casualties of the storm after a tree fell on their house Friday, killing them both. Two men were killed in Lenoir County, North Carolina - one while trying to hook up a generator, and the other who was checking on his dogs outside officials said. 

Emergency responders were also unable to reach a woman having a heart attack in Hampstead, North Carolina, after they found their path blocked by downed trees. Authorities say, when they were finally able to arrive at the home, the woman was dead. 

Florence is currently one of four named storms in the Atlantic. Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center expect the tropical storm to travel upstate through South Carolina, where it will dissipate into a tropical depression. They then expect the storm to turn north through Ohio Valley. 

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