More than 300,000 people were without power in North Carolina as of early Friday morning, as Hurricane Florence pounded the region with strong winds and heavy rains.
As of 6:40 a.m. local time, 365,659 residents were experiencing power outages, according to the North Carolina Department of Safety.
The majority of those affected were in New Hanover, Carteret, Onslow, Pender, and Craven counties.
Duke Energy told Fox News that 3 million customers, which represents about 75 percent of their customers in the Carolinas, could lose power.
The company has enlisted more than 10,000 employees, including 1,700 workers from the Midwest and 1,200 from Florida, to help in the relief efforts to get the power turned back on as quickly as possible.
The storm was downgraded late Thursday to a Category 1, as the North Carolina coast was battered by hurricane-force winds and a life-threatening storm surge.
In addition to the power outages, authorities were working with federal responders to rescue at least 150 residents who reported themselves stranded in Florence’s path.
The National Hurricane Center said about 4 a.m. that the eyewall of the storm is beginning to reach the North Carolina coast.
Fox News’ Ray Bogan contributed to this Fox News report, which is used by permission.
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