The US east coast is also seeing warnings, mass evacuations and a state of emergency declared for several states. Hurricane Florence is a dangerous Category-Two storm, churning toward the coasts of North and South Carolina. High winds, storm surges, and major flooding, all expected to impact millions. CGTN's Sean Callebs has this report from the storm's path.

What makes this area so beautiful is also its great vulnerability, proximity to the water. Residents in the path of Hurricane Florence are doing what they can, to protect businesses, homes and their lives. Gordon Reddick has been through this many times before, hurricanes with unrelenting wind, rain and flooding.

GORDON REDDICK STORE OWNER "Well in the store, about six inches is the most -in this area, in the back, it has been as far as a foot."

He has owned a surf shop on this barrier island for decades. Reddick is expecting a storm surge with Florence that could top out at around four meters. But while preparing for the worst, he can only hope for the best. Plywood protection bears the names of hurricanes past.

GORDON REDDICK STORE OWNER "You know this is something you put up with, it is a beautiful place to live, you know, great people."

Once Florence unleashes its fury, it may lose its beauty. From high above, it's easy to see why the hurricane is so terrifying. Outer bands, extend out nearly 500-kilometers from the eye. Winds are topping out at close to 210 kilometers per hour. So, even if the storm surge doesn't destroy valuable beach front property, the punishing winds could. Jerry Allen runs the last grocery store open on Wrightsville Beach.

JERRY ALLEN GROCERY STORE OWNER "Everybody comes in here and gets their last minute stuff, like we are here now until the end."

But the end is coming and fast. North Carolina emergency officials are forcing a mandatory evacuation from this strip of a barrier island. But many people waited and waited and are being greeted by this - massive traffic jams. Gas, food and water are in short supply on evacuation routes.

GREG COOKE EVACUEE "We are just loading up everything we can, getting our whole house in the U-Haul and we are heading in town. And as soon as they let us back on the island, we will try to get all the sand and water out as quick as possible, so no mold and go from there."

SEAN CALLEBS NORTH CAROLINA "Before hurricane Florence even makes land, US authorities are concerned it may become the most costly hurricane in US history, considering the loss of livestock, crops, personal property, they expect about one to three million people to lose electricity. Authorities are prepared to add to the damage in dollars and cents. What they don't want to do is add to the cost in the loss of human lives. Sean Callebs, CGTN, North Carolina."