the order lessons any potentige dand streamlines the process for the commonwealth to send asstance to other states. the governor wants people too prepare more with emergency kits. find more on what to include an how to prepare for a hurricane on our web site. >> reporter: south carolina declared a state of emergency. s we some people already buying up storm supplies. they loaded up on generators and ponchos. the govern wanveryone to take this storm seriously. >> it's strong storm now. it's been strong and hashe t potential to get very strong. >> north carolina has declared a state of emergency as well. >> you want to stay with storm team 4 for continuingag cov on florence. we are tracking the storm as it gets closer to the coast and y can get up-to-the-minute updates in our nbc washington app. >>> the search continues for a man fromorern virginia who disappeared while swimming in the patuxent river in marylandro he was seend 12:30 swimming off myrtle point park. the sheriff's office says the swimmer is an alexandria resident in his 20s. several agencies including the coast guard are i