Warnings, mass evacuations and a state of emergency declared for several US states. Hurricane Florence, growing in size despite its weakening winds, is churning ever closer to the US East Coast. Our correspondent Sean Callebs has the story in Wilmington, North Carolina.

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 REDDICKSTORE 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. 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 ALLENGROCERY STORE OWNER "Everybody comes in here and gets their last minute stuff -like we are here till now until the end."

But the end is coming -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 COOKEEVACUEE "We are just loading up everything we can, getting our whole house in the UHAUL and we are heading in town butt 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, CGTN, North Carolina.