hours and hours. here's what kendis is talking about that i mentioned to the meteorologist who's working -- we've got three of them on right now. of them we were talking to, 955 which is down a little bit so when you see the pressure drop and, max, thank you for putting the radar up and stay on it. when you see the pressure drop, that is usually the storm strengthening a little bit. so when you see the pressure drop a lot, you change categories, you know, and if it doesn't change categories it means the wind fld i spreading out but we've seen this before. what i didn't like about it was the eye looked very open for awhile. and then there's the open part. now look at that. look how it looks like you're getting a whole new eye right there. this storm is within 30 miles of the coast. see, when you get half of a storm inland like this and the other half in the ocean it's supposed to be weakening but this one isn't. just about every time we've

tried to she'seen a t another round of storms retightening in the center there. why is that happening? possibly because that water along the coastline is so warm that this center of this storm is, would go with that warm water right there along the coastline. normally that's what it takes to see what we're seeing right there. but, okay, you're saying why do i care, sam? that's bad news. >> no. >> it's bad news because it means we don't have a weakening storm. it means this storm is still every bit as strong as it was six hours ago. >> wow. >> and so as it wobbles along the coastline if we were at all hoping this storm was weakening and things would get better, e, even ift'aening. where y cityyono boom image seeing storms that are just offshore of surf city,

topsail, that whole area that hadn't seen really bad storms yet, that's a whole new area developing. >> did we get a sense it had an eyewall replacement. >> such a tough thing. was it in a prolonged eye wall replacement cycle? they go through them all the time. it can take hours for it to happen. in fact, what happens is you'll build the eye of the storm and then it'll start to spread out and spread out then it'll reform the eye again then it'll spread out and spread out. that's usually the sign of a strengthening storm which is what i don't even want to think about with this one. it's just -- i don't foresee that. i think we'll stay where we are but it certainly is well organized which is not what you want when it's not moving and it's still right there, still hasn't even made a closer we went on the air at 2:00 a.m. >> the water temperatures, 87

degrees, the stuff these storms feed on and appears as far as numbers that it is feeding off something there. >> we're not giving up on this storm any time soon. that's the bad news. >> back in 2010, wilmington set a record of 19 inches of rain. that was back then. we're seeing a lot more rain headed their way. what can you predict for once florence has made its way through. >> wilmington is in that area and, max, if you can -- >> that's victor's shot. >> victor oquendo's live shot where we knew the winds were up to 76 miles per hour within the last check we got from them. and then the rainfall, they're in that field where we're looking at up to 15 inches plus, they also -- if what is happening is happening they may be getting into that more than 20 inches of rain area as well. >> that set a new record. >> and set a new record because if that storm doesn't move and

those rain bands keep funneling in the same thing that happened to new bern will happen to other areas. >> can we go back to victor's shot and listen in as well. this is what the storm sounds like in the town of jacksonville. you can see whipping around and some of it is getting knocked over by the generators. >> some of that is the sound of the generator but you will hear the wind howl certainly at 76 miles an hour. >> and with nearly 200,000 people out that is the sound of north carolina right now. >> well, the other thing we need to say, victor told you they've been having rain for hours now so the ground is saturated so the bad news is this wind has kicked up trees are going to go down here and we'll have more power outages. >> that indeed. that's not the thing that anybody wants to hear about at all. in the meantime, not far from jacksonville, in fact, to the south is emily rau who has been

in wilmington, north carolina where it was whipping around behind her and now it is status quo. how have changed changed there, emily? >> reporter: hi, kendis. pretty much a lot of the same. if anything, the winds have picked up. i'm noticing more gusts as we stand out here sort of close to the street, a little bit sheltered and protected. i heard you talk about trees being down and damage reports starting to come in. just around the corner from our location the street there that's not as blocked from the winds as where we are apparently all of the trees there are down. we're just getting reports that really not many trees left standing at this point. that tells you just the power of those winds and, of course, it has been raining now for hours. we heard a lot of the same overnight trying to get some sleep before work began, that howling wind and the rain just slashing up against the windows. that's what so many people are experiencing this morning and, you know, for days, officials

here in wilmington, in north carolina, wrightsville beach where we spent a lot of time, they told people over and over this one is going to be different. not a storm you want to stay and try to wait out but, of course, some folks do decide in the end to stay and now we're hearing those reports of rescues happening of people getting water inside their hole me and this rain following it. overnight rescuers pulled back and said for awhile they will not be going out to try to do the rescues because it is too dangerous. you can probably see the rain coming in sideways and swirls around me. it just speaks to how dangerous these conditions are and it doesn't show any sign of letting up, in fact, could get worse in wilmington. kendis and stephanie. >> emily, we can see the wind is certainly picking up where you are. last time that we checked in with you, we saw a car drive past you. have you seen any more activity

since then? are you seeing people out and about peeking out to take a look at the storm? >> reporter: i've seen a couple heads, a couple faces poke out of the businesses behind me. not a whole lot. i think if you were walking around, i'm not sure you could really stand upright. so that tells you what we're dealing with here. i'm blocked from some of the wind. you still see it pushing me around. so not many people but i did hear some sigh referenrens ten so ago. that tells you there are emergency response trying to help people where they can. we saw the wind, new video of winds tearing off the canopy of a gas station, so it's quite a bit of risk to be out in this if you are not very close to shelter because things are not tied down and weighted down they will go flying. >> based on some of the wins we've seen and buoy that recorded a 90-mile-an-hour wind gust moments ago, a lot of

things will be flying in the middle of the night there in north carolina. emily rau, our thanks to you and just about a four-hour drive from where emily is in wilmington is our own gio benitez in kitty, hawk. i saw you last night on "world news" and it did seem as if you were in the thick of conditions there. what are things like right now? >> reporter: yeah, kendis and stephanie, listen, we were for 24 hours on what they called the dirty side of the storm. i know sam has talked about that. take a look. just to give you perspective where we are, we're at that dot, i circle i had. you can see it right there. that rain has just stopped but that's not the story here. the story here as you saw on "world news tonight," the story is the wind here. we were talking about massive waves that we were seeing, we are still getting some of those wind gusts right now, even though the storm is moving just to our west right now because when you're looking at the storm and you're thinking about the wind, the people here, that's what they were concerned about,

they were concerned about that storm surge. this area actually floods very easily, i've been here during weaker systems than this and during a tropical storm, this area floods very, very quickly but now we're talking about the potential for life-threatening flooding as tides change. that is when things get dangerous so parts of the outer banks have seen some flooding. we know some of the bridges have been overwashed with water and so that was really the concern here and that's why everyone left so early. i got to tell you people left here and they evacuated here days ago when the weather was still gorgeous. when the sun was still out and you could still be on the beach. people had already left. you're talking about a very busy time for the outer banks, september is incredibly busy here. more than $40 million in tourism dollars come in here every september. and that's what this place has lost out on during the storm and those people just left, tourist, we are at this hotel and for the

most part it's just first responders and some media here at the hotel. and a few locals who decided to stay and wanted a safe place to stay. >> does it seem as if things have stayed fairly calm out there. we saw the wind whipping up your report from last night on "world news," but any damage reports that you are getting from kitty hawk right now? >> reporter: we haven't heard from damage reports just yet. we haven't even seen some power outages, at least where we are right now, but this wind still keeps coming and these gusts still keep coming. so that's definitely still a concern. >> and, gio, you've been there for a good amount of time. what are some preparations you saw residents doing before they headed out? what are some things you've seen, any boarded up homes, supplies, just being ripped off of shelves. what are some of the things you've seen while there?

>> sure, sure, it's a little too dark so i would ask to pan the camera but it's not worth it right now but i can tell you right now we are next to all of those homes, those beautiful big beachfront homes that overlook kitty hawk pier here and most of them were boarded up before people left, they boarded them up and they ended up leaving. we know that they set up all the sandbags. businesses almost all of them were closed. you couldn't even find a restaurant open. everyone left and that was what was so remarkable about this, how many people listened to warnings and got out no matter what. >> it's good news. there was a point when we thought kitty hawk was going to get really, really pounded by this storm. it got wind to the north of where you are. all those ships in norfolk, virginia, moved out to sea as a precaution. thanks to gio benitez in kitty hawk, north carolina. we want to get on the phone. with us the field meteorologist and storm chaser brett adair who

is in wilmington right now and just back from topsail beach. what were the situations as you traveled from topsail to wilmington? >> well, guys, we were in topsail yesterday afternoon really during that first high tide before any of these big bands came in. we already started seeing some storm surge damage during high tide and saw some walls being knocked out of the rear of homes and garage doors knocked out, so the second tide cycle that just passed, you know, i can only imagine what daybreak hits what we'll see, however, the conditions here in wilmington are going downhill really quickly. we are now back at our hotel. we are on emergency backup power which has lights and only dealt with some signal issue, obviously our networks dealing with a lot of power flashes and such here in downtown wilmington now. >> and, brett, talk a little bit more about those conditions you're seeing there in

wilmington. we're looking at some video of that wind and the rain that's whipping around those trees, but talk a little bit more about wilmington and what you're seeing at this very moment. >> well, over the last three hours wilmington definitely went downhill and you got that eye wall approaches offshore so conditions will only get worse and until that gets into the area and speeds up just a little bit, it's going to be a prolonged process before we get these conditions out of wilmington so i'm really concerned for the area especially with the potential for wind damage with prolonged high winds as well as heavier rain. you're looking out your window it looks like a giant washing machine is probably the best way to describe it and you'll see flashes in the night sky here and there. the power is going out. >> brett, of course, every storm is unique and been to many. what is the signature of this storm so far? >> well, it's definitely the

size. been a long time since we've had a storm of this size strike the u.s. coastline. i was at harvey last year and maria but harvey was compact and powerful. this packed a punch and still off the shore and it still is as it moves inland, but with its weakening trend, it's still such -- it's going to be hours upon hours potentially of hurricane-force winds versus the normal couple of hours when you have a small and compact storm like harvey last year, so you're going to see prolonged periods of onshore flow. especially topsail beach. carolina beach, wrightsville beach, so you could deal with significant water impacts for a long period of time. >> and, brett, there is a tornado watch still in effect for parts of eastern north

carolina through about 7:00 this morning, eastern time. d you ex damage to be there where you are? >> well, we can already hear some trees snapping outside so i am pretty confident that we're going to deal with some pretty good damage and seen -- i've seen external imagery from the new bern area up towards jacksonville and topsail as well of some of the wind damage so expecting it to be pretty severe especially if this storm is able to deepen a little bit. it's right over that warm gulf stream water and the longer it sits out there, you know, we may not see significant strengthening but it does still give the opportunity for some of those gusts to kick up pretty well and it doesn't really give a big opportunity for weakening so we really need the storm to come onshore so that we can start getting that weakening trend in terms of the wind getting on because these

prolonged heavy rains will coo sathe soil ry,er easy for the trees to come down. >> that, indeed, we do need it to move ashore very quickly, but as sam just noted that the pressure within the storm might seem as an indication it is strengthening, the pressure is dropping, our thanks to you, brett, who is there in wilmington as we were talking with you, we saw some of the transformers that were going in and out and were blowing up there in the city of wilmington and also seeing some of the torrential rain. i do, sam, i know you're in on this, somebody in new bern tweeted at us all and the tweet here is saying, if anyone could help, our car is underwater. and so is our house. stuck in the attic. phone about to die. please send help. and she mentioned the address there. i do believe one of our producers is somehow trying to get in touch with this person right now. but it's the sort of desperation we're hearing from new bern,

north carolina, people doing everything they can to try to get help including tweeting at us. >> stephanie, what were you going to say. >> i know a lot of emergency responders are trying to get to those folks in need of help. >> one of the things in situations like this because twitter is unfiltered and can be anyone from anywhere. when you see someone reaching out for help. you want to help them so what i did is retweet and included the city of new bern on it. i know they're active and they're watching and trying to take care of those rescues and they had, what, more than 150 people and that was almost two hours ago. >> that was two hours ago. >> it's been really tough there. before i forget all this stuff because now we're working on not forge ath, les get i toblem we wilmington area because with this just the buoys are reporting a 90-mile-per-hour wind gus just off there then the other thing we've been talking

about within the last 30 minutes ago, couldn't find that northern or eastern eyewall, now, in fact, we can. we checked the water temperatures underneath there. they're 82, 83 degree, the water temperatures right here so what we saw was this secondary line of storms kind of redefine where the eye is. now watch that. it backs in a little bit, boom, right there and, max, even if you get a chance to pause that last frame for me a little more because it will help people grab on to what you're saying, boom, there's the last -- there's the last frame. so you can see coming into topsail looks like the redefined area of storms around the eye wall is getting in there. there's wilmington so it's very, very close to that as well. that's why the winds kind of picked up in our live shots and while around topsail getting back into that area of storms. this will circle back around and run over them again. now just looking again, slide it

around. i noticed that new bern was still getting in one of those bands of storms because, again, if the storm doesn't move itself, and the bands aren't raining out and still have the same strength that pressure bobble with it, whether it's 955 or 956 doesn't mean that the storm is strengthening but it's not weakening. when we expect to see bobbles in not just the shape of the eye or the shape of the storm or the pressure itself, we expect to see that. but what you want to see is a trend that the storm is opening up or the storm is weakening or is getting dry air in it and you can tell people that things are going to be getting better. i cannot tell you things will get better because it's still the same strength that it's been for several hours and it's inching its way close to the coastline with that same strength so here's the hurricane force wind field we've been seeing. we put this in a little bit of a forecast where reran it awe ran

beyond. we've had hurricane force gusts getting into south carolina. that's important to note because we haven't really gotten the worst part of the storm into south carolina and south carolina for the last few hours has been doing so much better than this area of jacksonville, surf city, new bern, all the way up into there. this area has been taking the worst hit but now we're starting to see that wind field give those hurricane force gusts even into south carolina, so the storm is pushing a little bit more wind and rain all the way into that area. let me think for a second if there's anything i want to touch on for you, the center of the storm, those areas that are still maintaining the rain, everything that we have been seeing in this is going to continue sitting and spinning in place. we're just waiting for that eye to get onshore. usually what happens when that happens if the eye starts to move onshore, then you start to

see some degradation of the storm itself because the eye is not sitting over water and can't just kind of continue to circulate. so we wait for that and hoping for that soon. and what we have seen is it getting very close but can't tell you we'll lose strength in the storm yet over the next couple of hours so everything we have been seeing and now we're looking at those rain bands again coming back over that area, so cape look out, you've been in, new bern, you are still in it and part of the problem with this storm is that that push of water onshore is still going on. not going to release the flooding.south carolina. not going to release the flooding. and that will push as the center of the storm drifts so will winds that come onshore. they will drift down with it. so still looking at that seven to 11-foot storm surge. 6 to 9 feet is still a bad storm

surge. really bad storm sur in these areas and what that does is push that water in, floods these towns that are right around those bays or those rivers with saltwater, but that holds the rainwater from draining back out into the atlantic, so now you've got that water from the atlantic still sitting there and that rainwater is not able to drain out of there. the one thing i wanted to get to before we go, if you're waking up this morning and waking up in ohio and you're waking up in pennsylvania, this storm has got something for you in the form of rainfall that tropical kind of rain monday and tuesday, kendis, stephanie. >> it is a day's long storm we'll continue to keep an eye on with the storm and the flooding situation over the next few days. our thanks to sam champion and, again, looking forward to that update from the national hurricane center but our nonstop coverage of hurricane florence which is hugging the coast right now of the carolinas does continue.

>> we're going to take a quick pause to bring in more of our abc stations. >> announcer: this is an abc news special report. hurricane florence. >> we do say good morning, everyone, from abc news world headquarters in new york. i'm kendis gibson with stephanie ramos and our nonstop coverage of hurricane florence continues right now. >> the very latest. the eyewall of hurricane florence is beginning to reach the north carolina coast. the situation in new bern is being described as dire and destructive. officials there tell us people are trapped in their homes, in their cars, they're on top of rooftops and take a look at this intense video of all of that storm surge. >> this is the town of belle haven in north carolina. this might look like it's coming from the ocean. this is from a river that has

just swollen. this is not part of the storm surge but an indication that people all over north carolina are facing right now. at least one home has caught fire in the town of hard hit new bern. new video shows the firefighters tackling the flames in the harsh conditions. at least 190,000 people are without power. that number will grow. also in new bern at the bridge point hotel and marina, cars, we've seen, under water and the buildings there surrounded by water as well. you can see it there in that video. now in north topsail the gas station collapsing in high winds. >> there's damage at this high school where school started for -- the school year started for many opportunities

. you can see water all over the floor. it's been a very, very busy morning and this storm is not done yet. it is still hugging the coastline of the carolinas. there have been some indications that it is nowhere near weakening at this point. abc's victor oquendo can tell you that for sure because he's in the thick of it in jacksonville, north carolina. sure has not weakened in his shot. victor. >> reporter: not at all, kendis. it's been a busy morning and very long night here. these winds are only getting stronger. this rain has just been relentless. you kind of see it just washing right across the shot. it's whipping me right in the face. the reported wind gust here at last check right around 76 miles per hour. and it's only getting worse. here in jacksonville we are about 20 miles away from the coast. but here there are reports of major structural damage to homes and businesses, you guys saw what happens at that local high school here.

just a few hours ago we were down near the new river near the mouth of it close to the shore. and that leads all the way up through the city of jacksonville, that is going to be basically a one-two punch for these people here. we're going to get the initial hit from the storm and then the major concern is obviously that storm surge. that's another huge wind gust comes through here in jacksonville. that storm surge as i'm going to try to move closer to this wall here. we hear the wind and rain pounding against the window and the walls of our hotel here where the power went out early on. but as i was saying that storm surge could possibly be up to 11 feet. officials telling me that they are bracing for an unprecedented amount of rain and rainfall alone that could be looking at right around three feet as well. here in onslow county they didn't even open up any

shelters. they were busing people inland further inland to get to other shelters this other counties getting them out of this area and did meet people that decided to ride the storm out. we always come across nose folks but the advice is get out of town but obviously at this point with the eyewall as close to the coast ass it right now if you have not left at this point it is way too late. just driving back into jacksonville last night from snead's ferry along the new refer near the mouth we saw a bunch of transformers blowing and sparks flying in the air. i'm sure you'll see a lot more damage when daylight comes. >> 76-mile-an-hour winds possible in that area in jacksonville. get a sense it's more of a wind

event or rain event in your location. >> we're getting a health mix of both right now. it hasn't stopped at this point. st wdselt shis imin what they're dealing with right now as i mentioned we are about 20 miles inland and we're still really feeling it over here given where the eyewall is right now that close to the coast you can imagine what they're dealing with down there. >> and, victor, did you get a chance to speak with the folks that decided to stay there and hunker down? what were some things they were saying? any reasons as to why they were deciding to stay there instead of evacuate? >> we heard a bunch of reasons, none of them very good. they kind of said, look, we're braced for the flooding right

now. we know what we're getting ourselves into. a few people said they lived through hurricane floyd in 1999 that caused a ton of damage to jacksonville and talking to these people staying in closer to the coast. in '99 floyd brought a ton of rain. it damaged hundreds of homes, cost billions of dollars in damages. but those folks decided to stick this one out and given what we're seeing here this far inland, i can't imagine what they're dealing with right now down there. >> we do see the wind speeds. i'm watching them on sam's map and it doesn't appear as if you're going to be out of it any time soon. any advice to him, sam, as you watch this? >> no, as those bands are whipping around, victor, you know exactly that you're in for it now. you're very close to where the eyewall bands have been. that has the worst wind and the worst rain. and it is kind of restormed that line of storms so you'll be in

it for awhile. that 76-mile-per-hour wind gust is likely to happen a few more sometimes over the next couple hours. >> you're welcome, the good news from sam. >> victor, the whole thing is just hang on but keep an eye out for debris because, you know, when you step out into that wind it gives us a good view of everything that is happening out there but just keep an eye out. this is the time when things let loose. you know, street sign, tree limbs, all that stuff, trash cans start to let loose when you get into these peak wind gusts so be super careful. >> we heard him say -- >> always have to watch out for that. >> yeah. >> yeah, victor -- >> i'm going to jump in. as sam was saying, it was, you know, given that this is a category 1, we're still -- you're seeing me get blown around by the winds. i remember being in the middle of hurricane maria and, look, guys, a hurricane is a hurricane. that stuff is going to get blown

around regardless. definitely something that everybody here has to watch out for. >> yeah, are you seeing a lot of things being blown around? it's very difficult and which makes it a lot more difficult to get around in a storm which you shouldn't be, because it's nightfall right now but are you seeing things being blown around right now? >> reporter: i mean where we are at this location we haven't seen anything quite like, you know, a ton of debris but you can imagine with the ground already being so saturated, these trees, i mean this whole area behind me, i wouldn't be surprised once the sun comes out we will start to see a number of downed trees getting blown around. >> in the next hour you'll get -- it'll probably be a little more steady. now you are still in where the rain band is, it breaks and then it reforms so you'll get those gusts and you'll get a burst of rain. that's kind of what's happening to where you are right now but as that storm drifts a little bit closer to the center of the

storm drifting closer you guys will be in a more steady position to where you'll have the more steady winds and the more constant heavy rain. >> yep. i would say that's about right. as i backed up to get more into the wind, i just saw another transformer in this area blow, huge flash of blue light. off in the distance here. yeah, guys, this is -- it's really starting to pick up. >> i believe maria hit during the daytime. this coming ashore during the middle of the night. maria was a 4, 5, this is a 1. what seems more dangerous, the fact this is in the middle of the night or maria in the daytime? >> hurricanes usually do hit in the overnight, early morning hours. i remember hurricane maria hit

arou around 3:00, 4:00, and picking up around 7:00 a.m. look at what i'm standing this. these winds are definitely strong. that reported wind gust at jacksonville right around 76 miles per hour. we were also in naples for hurricane harvey -- for hurricane irma as well and we were inside of a hurricane shelter and just seeing -- it just looked like a waterfall just the amount of rain getting whipped around just outside of the shelter and then obviously hurricane harvey in texas which just brought an unprecedented amount of rain there. right now what i'm feeling, though, in terms of wind gusts, guys. they're strong. >> that, indeed. you can see it and you can hear it in the microphone there for victor oquendo who is in the heart of it in jacksonville and you can see his photographer is having a hard time dealing with all of that moisture there.

so about 53 miles south of where victor is is our own emily rau in wilmington, north carolina. >> let's check in with her and see what the situation is there in wilmington. emily, how is it going? >> reporter: hey, stephanie, hey, kendis, it's okay. the winds have been picking up and dropping off just a little bit. there is another big gust here. so far there are trees down. we know in the area but the power is still on as those heavy wind and rain slam in the area. florence is moving less than ten miles per hour inland. but the wind coming with it, ten times as fast. >> once these winds start blowing, at that tropical storm rate it will be virtually impossible for the rescuers to get in to rescue you. >> reporter: those tropical storm force winds blasting an area hundreds of miles wide ripping off this gas station canopy in topsail beach, north carolina. as first responders pull back

the storm surge is rushing in. in new bern, people wading through waist deep water trying to get to their hotels. and in wilmington, the rain coming down sideways in sheets. families who chose to stay and ride it out now bracing for the worst. >> we have large pine trees and they're really bending a lot and the wind just howling away as i can hear it from inside the house. >> reporter: reports of structural damage already racking up and shelters overflowing. and while we still do have power here in downtown wilmington a lot of folks already don't. we know at least 190,000 people in north carolina alone now in the dark and more than 100 waiting to be rescued in new bern, north carolina so the conditions really getting worse here as this storm just gets started. kendis and stephanie. >> emily, we can definitely see that wind there just kind of pushing you around. have you seen any emergency responders in the