MILLIONS IN HARM'S WAY

An estimated 10 million people live in areas expected to be placed under a hurricane or storm advisory, said Marc Chenard of the US Weather Prediction Center.

The first tropical storm-force winds of at least 39 mph (63 kph) were forecast to hit the coast on Thursday.

Emergency preparations in the region included activating over 2,700 National Guard troops, stockpiling food, setting up shelters, switching traffic patterns so major roads led away from shore, and securing 16 nuclear power reactors in the Carolinas and Virginia.

Utility officials have warned that widespread power outages are likely and that it could take weeks to restore electricity.

Wilmington, North Carolina, just north of where Florence appeared headed for shore, grew empty and quiet on Wednesday.

"I'm not approaching Florence from fear or panic," said Brad Corpening, 35, who planned to ride out the storm in his boarded-up delicatessen in Wilmington. "It's going to happen. We just need to figure out how to make it through."

Officials in New Hanover County, which includes Wilmington, have stockpiled enough food and water for 60,000 people for four days, along with more than 28,000 tarps. Shelters in the city were filling and some people were being bused inland to Raleigh, even though some residents there were told they might have to evacuate because of flooding.

"It's going to be bad," said Woody White, a county commissioner. "But no matter how bad it's going to be, it will pass and our job will be to rebuild this community together."

Reuters