>> we had to pull back from the beach because the water was rising too high. for past 30 hours it's been raining steadily. more than 20 inches in the area and moving around on the roads and it has gotten too dicey. some police here are blocking the traffic. the wind today was strong enough to cause damage to houses on the beach. we saw roofs taken off and other problems as well. the one thing that is clear in the storm, the message has gotten out to the people of north carolina. almost all the homes we saw even the damaged ones, boarded up. no one inside. and help is coming from around the country. at least 19 different states sending swift boat rescue teams to help people with the flooding ahead. tucker, back to you. >> tucker: steve harrigan, north topsail beach. if there is a storm, he is there. go to florence, and we have a reporter there. >> we didn't feel the effect until a few hours ago. the winds and the rain are