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PHOTOS: Florence lashes East Coast

WASHINGTON — Hurricane Florence strengthened into a potentially catastrophic storm barreling toward North and South Carolina.

It has prompted states of emergency up and down the mid-Atlantic region. The National Hurricane Center warned that Florence was forecast to linger over the Carolinas once it reaches shore.

People living well inland should prepare to lose power and endure flooding and other hazards.

See satellite photos of the monster storm and how people in its path are preparing.

Residents walk in flooded streets in the historic downtown area as the Neuse River begins to flood its banks during Hurricane Florence September 13, 2018 in New Bern, United States. Coastal cities in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virgnia are under evacuation orders as the Category 2 hurricane approaches the United States.
Residents walk in flooded streets in the historic downtown area as the Neuse River begins to flood its banks during Hurricane Florence September 13, 2018 in New Bern. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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Residents walk in flooded streets in the historic downtown area as the Neuse River begins to flood its banks during Hurricane Florence September 13, 2018 in New Bern, United States. Coastal cities in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virgnia are under evacuation orders as the Category 2 hurricane approaches the United States.
RIVER BEND, NC - SEPTEMBER 13:  The Trent River (background) overflows its banks and floods a neighborhood during Hurricane Florence September 13, 2018 in River Bend, North Carolina. Some parts of River Bend and the neighboring New Bern could be flooded with a possible 9-foot storm surge as the Category 2 hurricane approaches the United States.  (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
RIVER BEND, NC - SEPTEMBER 13:  A truck drives through deep water after the Neuse River went over its banks and flooded the street during Hurricane Florence September 13, 2018 in River Bend, North Carolina. Some parts of New Bern could be flooded with a possible 9-foot storm surge as the Category 2 hurricane approaches the United States.  (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
WILMINGTON, NC - SEPTEMBER 13: Josh Honeycutt runs to his car after picking up food at Waffle House, as the effects of Hurricane Florence start to hit the area, on September 13, 2018 in Wilmington, North Carolina. Hurricane Florence is expected on early Friday as a possible category 2 storm along the North Carolina and South Carolina coastline.  (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
NEW BERN, NC - SEPTEMBER 13:  Residents wade through deep floodwater to retrieve belongings from the Trent Court public housing apartments after the Neuse River went over its banks during Hurricane Florence September 13, 2018 in New Bern, United States. Coastal cities in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia are under evacuation orders as the Category 2 hurricane approaches the United States.  (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
ATLANTIC BEACH, NC - SEPTEMBER 13:  Portions of a boat dock and boardwalk are destroyed by powerful wind and waves as Hurricane Florence arrives September 13, 2018 in Atlantic Beach, United States. Coastal cities in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia are under evacuation orders as the Category 2 hurricane approaches the United States.  (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
NEW BERN, NC - SEPTEMBER 13:  Diamond Dillahunt, 2-year-old Ta-Layah Koonce and Shkoel Collins survey the flooding at the Trent Court public housing apartments after the Neuse River topped its banks during Hurricane Florence September 13, 2018 in New Bern, United States. Coastal cities in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia are under evacuation orders as the Category 2 hurricane approaches the United States.  (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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