In pictures: Hurricane Florence ravages North Carolina

Tropical storm left 5 dead in its wake

Hurricane Florence battered the Carolinas Friday with howling winds, life-threatening storm surges and torrential rains as it came to close making landfall in what officials warned is a once in a lifetime event.

Coastal streets in North Carolina were flooded and winds bent trees to the ground as the storm, which has been downgraded several times in recent days, weakened and evolved into a storm.

On Saturday however, the storm picked up knocking down trees, flooding rivers, and dumping sheets of rain in the Carolinas where five people have died.



Water level rises during Hurricane Florence in New Bern, North Carolina, PHOTO: AFP

A house is seen destroyed from falling trees as hurricane Florence passes over in Wilmington PHOTO: AFP

A man walks through flooded streets during the passing of Hurricane Florence in the town of New Bern PHOTO: AFP

A car is destroyed from falling bricks as Hurricane Florence passes over Wilmington PHOTO: AFP

Tahrike Shaw sings, prays as he walks along the sidewalk as Hurricane Florence comes ashore in Wilmington, North Carolina PHOTO: AFP

Rescue worker carries a child from rescue boat to shelter PHOTO: AFP

A downed tree rests on a house during the passing of Hurricane Florence in the town of Wilson PHOTO: REUTERS

Rescue personnel remove a man from a home that a large tree fell on after Hurricane Florence hit the area PHOTO: AFP

An abandoned car's hazard lights continue to flash as it sits submerged in a rising flood waters during pre-dawn hours after Hurricane Florence struck in Wilmington. PHOTO: AFP

Volunteers from all over North Carolina help rescue residents and their pets from their flooded homes during Hurricane Florence in New Bern, North Carolina PHOTO: AFP