In pictures: Hurricane Florence
Hurricane Florence
Staring down the eye of the storm
"Ever stared down the gaping eye of a Category 4 hurricane? It's chilling, even from space," German astronaut Alexander Gerst wrote of Hurricane Florence on Twitter. The hurricane was later downgraded to a Category 2 storm.
Extremely dangerous storm
The Category 2 storm on the five-point Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is expected to cause storm surges and massive flooding across the southeastern US. The National Hurricane Center has described Florence as an extremely dangerous and life-threatening storm.
Boarding up
More than 10 million people in the Carolinas and Virginia were under hurricane watches or warnings. More than 1.7 million people in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia were urged to flee coastal areas. Homes and stores across the region were boarded up ahead of Florence’s landfall.
Hunkering down
Residents across the region stocked up on food, water and gasoline. Power in some areas may be out for days or weeks, authorities warned.
It's a big one
US President Donald Trump said the federal government would help states in Florence's path. Trump urged residents in impacted areas to stay safe. "Don't play games with it. It's a big one...bad things can happen when you're talking about a storm this size." Trump has come under fire for his handling of Hurricane Maria, which killed some 3,000 people in Puerto Rico last year.