Catastrophic flooding across the carolinas. If we look at the images already devastating. Jillian stranded victims, homes destroyed. We keep getting updated numbers. So far nearly 1 Million People without power. Forecasters predict the area will get a years worth of rain before it is over. Pretty scary. Some of those 100 mile an hour gusts were frightening to watch at 6 00 in the morning as the sun was coming up. The street had the worst damage i have seen so far. Connell lets go to adam plots in the extreme weather center. We have been trying to deemphasize the wind all along and focus on what really matters, all this rain. And the longlasting nature of all this rain. When it came on sure there were spots that got 100 mile an hour gusts, that is no longer the case. As we look at the storm, it was a tight i will, now it is spreading out, the winds will keep weakening but everything you see behind it, more rainfall and such a slowmoving storm, the circulation passed into South Carolina past myrtle beach but that is only 100 miles back from where it made landfall so moving very slow. Water, rain falling on these locations. This entire time we are talking 48, 60 hours of consistent rain. Winds not as strong, 40 or 50 mile an hour winds, the ground situated, trees will keep coming down with the ground as wet as it is. You see this moisture, it will continue to do so. The areas it has been raining heaviest, tracking heavy thunderstorms, heavy downpours moving on to the coastal areas. That continues. You get very defined lines, 25, 30 inches and a couple miles away, 6 inches of rain. That is the setup but all the rain needs somewhere to go, we are seeing this flooding. The rain is not over. These are forecasted rainfall totals on top of 20 inches we have seen in some locations. Adding another 10 to 20 inches of rain before this thing moves out of the area. That will be enough to fill rivers, 50 miles an hour, with the ground saturated as we are talking about, 30 or 40 inches of rain, still enough for more trees to come down, more Power Outages. Connell the number keeps going up. When you add South Carolina it is above 900,000, close to 1 million without power, duke energy said we might get between one and 3 million, we are so focused on coastal areas for obvious reasons but as it continues the next day or two how far inland is flooding a concern . Even in a big city like charlotte . The good news if there is any, it will bring a lot of oyster but here is our storm. What will happen through today is it starts to move a lot faster. We will be stuck through saturday into sunday. I think areas in North Carolina and South Carolina, this does pick up and even though it keeps raining it isnt going to linger. Connell we will take it. Not much good news but we will take it, so slow so far. Connell two feet or more of rainfall on parts of North Carolina the past two days and it is not over yet. Forecasters predicting rain saturday into sunday, Morehead City, North Carolina, has seen two feet of rain but it stops for the time being. A couple minutes ago, the gas station behind you, that is incredible. Reporter the wind damage was unbelievable. 20 plus inches of rain and more coming but as you look here look at this devastation. This is the telltale sign of Hurricane Force winds whether it is a number or a 2, ripped it out of its holding. As you go along this major highway, at the base of the bridge to the Barrier Island you see all along the road trees ripped out by the roofs, roofs ripped off businesses and this gas station absolutely pummeled and power lines down making it hard to get around this highway which had north towards newport and newburn, they are continuing rescues, 100 more they are actively pursuing, 375, extensive flooding to the north but also moments ago got off the phone with Morehead City officials and they had a few rescues as well, 36 yesterday and 9 pets they had to rescue from harkers island. People still stranded there because of flooding. It is dry where i but flooded in lower areas. On the coastline where we started this tides coming back and more rain coming and people are worried about that because it is difficult for energy crews and trucks and First Responders to move around. What we are going to get into as the rain hits us again, peoples mood turns sour it will make the logistics of mobility extremely difficult. Theres a lot of cleaning up to do. North carolina will not be done with this for a long time. Jillian have you seen a lot of people who chose to stay in their homes, what they are thinking at this point . Reporter a fair amount of people decided to stay because of the downgrade but that might not have been a smart idea. People i talked to, a construction worker Walking Around saying, it is really going to pick up so excited about the business coming for him, one of the real rushes i saw with houston and katrina, people that immediately days of Impact Communities but if they havent experienced that it has to be hard and unsettling for a lot of people. It sure is. Two years ago when matthew hit, it flooded jillian we will find out in upcoming days, weeks and months. Forecasters have warned us about what florence would deliver when it comes to the flooding and turns out they were right. Huntsville beach, North Carolina it came on short 21 hours ago. With us again, it was 21 hours ago and seems you are not even out of it, the rain is coming down. The rain is coming down, some wind, color radar apps. I was amazed that we were getting plenty of rain. I have been covering Tropical Storms and hurricanes for more than 30 years and this is the slowest moving storm i can remember and that is frustrating for residents especially those who heated the mandatory evacuations, they are anxious to find out if their homes have been damaged or if their businesses will require repairs but officials are worried about down power lines, debris in the road. They say it is not safe for people to come back to these Barrier Islands. It may be several days before people are able to check on their property. We have not been allowed to see most of the island. I say that is a disclaimer for what i am about to say, represents a small section of the island but from what little we have seen we are noticing some damaged awnings and roofing materials and siding damage but we havent seen any shattered windows or major structural damage. The wind not a huge issue, at least not here on this section of this portion of North Carolina but a huge concern is the potential for flooding as the storm came ashore. It was storm surge. Now as the storm begins its move inland the concern is heavy rains. Rains in lens could cause flash flooding. The ground is saturated. Many areas not used to handling this much rain over a long time. This is an unusually slow moving storm system. We are not in the clear just yet. Connell we are looking at video. Even if you were allowed to get around the island would you be able to . That floodwater may be subsided but maybe not. Streets around you could be fairly flooded out. Reporter the situation is evil thing. Yesterday we were reporting in the afternoon looking at a main intersection, the base of the causeway bridge that leads to this island and there was maybe a half foot of water, maybe a little more. We saw some official vehicles, thought about driving through it and then thought better, turned around and over the course of the next hour we saw the waters begin to reseed. As quickly as they reseed, in other parts there are heavy rain so it is driving at this point of the storm still very uncertain and that is why we tell folks if you can stay indoors it is a good idea to do that until this storm system moves through. Connell authorities warn people all the time you dont know how deep the water is, you try to drive into it. Thanks, we will check back throughout the morning. Jillian andrew barrett, managing partner and Program Director at vector aeronautical, their business is medical evacuations by air. He joins us from the Emergency Operations center. Tell us what you have seen so far and what you have been experiencing. Reporter a new day here. Our aircrews are eager to get to work. We have been part of 150 plus evacuations for the past 48 hours or so and because of increasing winds in the raleighdurham area, early in the day on friday and eager to resume those, decreased below the 40 not wind gust level. Jillian you mentioned 150 plus medical evacuations. A lot have to do with high floodwaters, people trapped inside their homes. Reporter up until today the focus has been getting the most vulnerable patient populations out of the hospital has the storm approached, looking at patients Power Outages and things like that. They are out of coastal areas. People on ventilators. Jillian where do they go . A majority of the patients we see impacted in the raleigh area and greensboro area and charlotte area, to hospitals. Jillian sounds like we are hearing a little sound from some of these rescues. Have people been worried about the storm . We are an airplane based program. When we evacuate these patients, the local ground ambulance crews, interesting to coordinate and work with those folks, those on the ground when the hurricane made landfall, the tension was palpable. We were working with ground crews. Jillian what are you in store for today . We hope to resume operations today is wind gusts decreased below 40 kn. At this point we are waiting to see where we go and where the critical need for us is. Jillian where do you get those orders from . How does the coordination work . Prior to the hurricane, those coming from the hospital, where they are transported to. Now that the hurricane is passing, federal programs start getting involved. Those orders may start coming from fema. Thank you for joining us, we appreciate it. Connell great work, so many crews doing terrific work. They are the heroes who put their lives on the line when disaster strikes. Jillian the coast guard sales into action, what it is looking to prepare for and confront a monster storm. We will be right back. This wifi is fast. I know i know i know i know when did brian move back in . Brians back . He doesnt get my room. Hes only going to be here for like a week. Like a month, tops. Oh boy. Wifi fast enough for the whole family is simple, easy, awesome. In many cultures, young men would stay with their families until their 40s. Connell continuing coverage of Tropical Storm florence. We have been talking overnight into the Early Morning about the slowmoving nature of the storm. It is for 20 on the east coast, sunrise is right before 7 00, 6 50, 6 51 depending on where you are and that is the challenge, you were talking to the gentleman in air rescue, they havent had a chance to see what they were dealing with. Jillian it will be 24 hours, 21 hours since it made landfall as a hurricane and it has only traveled about 100 miles. It is going 3 to 5 miles an hour. You talk about how slowmoving it is, how much rain has fallen, that will be a significant issue, and the flooding, flash flooding, and connell the Fifth District headquarters in portsmouth, virginia, lieutenant amanda falconer, thank you for coming on. Lets us know what you think for the next few days. The next couple days, focused on lifesaving operations for the coast guard. Waiting for the storm to subside so we can get out, helping state and locals with emergency response. Connell what needs to happen to get out . Must it stop raining or winds have to get below a certain level . What is the qualification before the coast guard can perform rescues . Helicopters, primarily winds. As soon as the wind is accessible to the operational commander, that is when we go out. Yesterday the helicopter is ready to go, they had to land because the wind was too strong and they got up before sunset, connecting 7 missions before they stopped for the night. Jillian thank you for joining us. I have a question for you. Have you been able to talk to any responders or rescuers . What areas have been hit hardest . Where have they been performing a lot of different rescues and what folks are saying who were trapped in their homes . Reporter most of the rescues have been on the northeast area, North Carolina. It depends where the state needs us, looking towards the state. Connell in terms of challenges you run into, what are you or your crews worried about in the next few days . Reporter we are looking at safety of First Responders. We are fighting it out we have to do it in a safe way. We are looking to make sure the coast guard does this every day, go out in Severe Weather every day. Connell looking at video that is coming in. Always in these storms, dogs being saved, the gentleman in the raft coming in. This particular area, riverbend, North Carolina. The area of new bern has gotten hit hard. It is not the place you expect. Those are difficult places to get to as well. Reporter yes. I know we had a pretty good idea where the flooding was going to be but you never know what the impact or severity will be after the evacuation orders. Connell the forecast they knew pretty well where it was going to hit and gave time for people to prepare. Im curious how this compares to other storms you had in the past. This is similar to what we saw with hurricane matthew, just a lot of flooding, a lot of water. That was just a big impact. The coast guard is ready to go. Connell we appreciate you calling in like this and taking a few minutes and we wish you the best to everybody working the next few days, thanks a lot. Whether it is the coast guard or local authorities, the forecast for the carolinas more rain and a lot of it. It is moving so slow. Jillian meteorologists saying it will continue at least through saturday night into sunday. We will talk about the effect that water will have as coverage continues. 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Jillian florence is a Tropical Storm but folks across the carolinas are warned not to let their guard down as this Violent Storm pummels their homes with record rainfall and flooding. Florence is living up to her predicted fury. Connell million homes in north and South Carolina without power and that number will fluctuate. Duke energy was saying to million before the storm is said and done. Many victims wondering what type of home they will have to return to once they are allowed back in. Good morning, good to have you with us, our coverage continues. Jillian we continue with live coverage of Tropical Storm florence. Leland it is slowing down and as it stalls over the carolinas is packing a punch. Some areas have two feet of rain and they could see another foot or two of rain. Griff jenkins rejoins us from the gas station that was destroyed by the storm. You wonder what daybreak will bring. Reporter it is going to bring rain but we are enjoying a break from the lashing we took last year. You wonder what they would come home to. Here at Morehead City they will come home to a lot of wind damage but the flooding is the story right now because of the area inland, near highway 70, the National Weather service posting pictures of highway 70 on the way towards the town of newport and new bern where they had those rescues. I talked to those folks, they are pursuing 100 rescues, 375 yesterday. They have extensive flooding into the north they are totally cut off greenville. It is unbelievable. Look at this devastation. This gas station absolutely pummeled. It is not isolated. All along highway 70 in morehead, trees ripped out of the ground by their roots, roofs ripped off businesses, homes with trees smashed into them, power lines down. Every street you go along with a lot of debris all over the road and the flooding is occurring here. The water can go back out but the rainfall, already expecting more. Side streets, extensive flooding, 36 rescues yesterday, they will need more resources and the things they need will be shelters and resources like cots and generators to get the shoulders up. In new bern they tell me they had so many rescues, they dont know where to put these people so the Marine Corps Air station is up there. One thing is for sure, fair to say the total cost damage will be in the tens of millions if not higher but the troubling thing is while getting a break in the rain, we will get it again around 8 00 and that will complicate things because the bottom line is we have to get Energy Trucks in here, heavy hardware to get this debris out of here, homes repaired and that wont happen until Mother Nature starts cooperating. Connell you are right along the coast in Morehead City. If you start moving north nort