President Trump declares a disaster in North Carolina as at least seven people die as a result of Storm Florence
ADVERTISEMENTAs Storm Florence continued to batter over 500 kilometres of the southeastern coast of the United States President Donald Trump declared a disaster in North Carolina.
By that stage, seven people had already lost their lives in the storm, which was moving inland on Saturday.
Almost a million homes have been left without power in North and South Carolina alone.
A mother and child were killed when a tree fell on their home on Friday; another woman suffered a more indirect death when the flood waters prevented the emergency services from reaching her in time to save her life.
It's reported that Trump is considering visiting the region next week.
His disaster declaration frees up federal funds for repairs and low-cost loans for those who are uninsured.
The winds have weakened to around 80km per hour but it's the flooding that's causing the most damage and proving the most dangerous.
"The flood danger from this storm is more immediate today than when it made landfall just 24 hours ago." the North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper told a press conference.
"We face walls of water at our coast, along our rivers, across farmland, in our cities, and in our towns. More people now face imminent threat than when the storm was just offshore. I cannot overstate it. Flood waters are rising and if you aren't watching for them you are risking your life."
Officials are warning that Florence could start to bring flooding inland over the next few days with catastrophic floods in some districts. The damage to property and human lives so far has been horrendous.