The Citizen-Times

NEW BERN, N.C. - Hurricane Florence brought torrential rains, devastating winds and a crippling storm surge to this coastal city Friday, stranding hundreds and cutting power to all but a few residents.

The storm came ashore as a weakened but enormous Category 1 hurricane, snapping trees, flooding streets and downing power lines across a wide swath of the coastal Carolinas.

New Bern Mayor Dana Outlaw said 300 of the city's 22,000 residents still had power as of early Friday afternoon.

"We aren't going to try to restore power for quite some time, probably," the mayor said. "You don't want to put someone in a bucket and send them high into the air to mess with power lines in 70 mph winds."

Across the region, more than 600,000 were without electricity around midday Friday, and that total is certain to grow as the storm moves inland.

Duke Energy reported 370,000 customers without power, mostly in eastern North Carolina. The utility has said up to 3 million customers could lose service before Florence moves on. The N.C. Electric Cooperative Network, a group of 26 co-ops across the state, has 185,500 customers without service.

There is no timetable for restoring power, Duke Energy said on its website, as it "depends on storm impacts."

Police confirmed two fatalities in Wilmington: A mother and infant were killed when a tree fell on their house. The father, who was injured, was taken to New Hanover Regional Medical Center. A statement from Gov. Roy Cooper states that one person was killed in Lenoir County while plugging in a generator.

New Bern officials reported more than 1,200 911 calls in a 12-hour span, and roughly 4,600 buildings, including residences and businesses, have been damaged.

"People who live in New Bern have experienced hurricanes before, but it has been a long time since we have experienced something like this," Outlaw said.

Following Hurricane Florence:



• Blue Ridge Parkway to completely close Friday ahead of Hurricane Florence

• Live updates Friday as the storm moves inland

• Florence makes landfall in North Carolina

• Hundreds in New Bern need rescue from 'catastrophic storm surge'

• Photos: Florence hitscoast with heavy rain, storm surge

More than 9,500 National Guard troops and civilians have been deployed, with high-water vehicles, helicopters and boats, to help with rescue and relief efforts

The USA TODAY Network and the Associated Press contributed to this report.