Hurricane Florence destroyed the electricity of more than 275,000 homes and businesses across the state.
Major structural damage has been reported to households and businesses in Onslow County.
Some 150 people were waiting for the rescue in New Bern early Friday morning.
A 10-foot storm surge has been reported from Morehead City.
About 12,000 people are in 126 evacuation shelters, government officials said.
Major structural damage to houses and businesses has been reported by officials from Onslow County as Hurricane Florence hit North Carolina early Friday morning. More than 275,000 homes and businesses have lost energy.
Florence was approaching the coast with strong waves and torrential rains that caused floods and trees and power lines.
Some 150 people were waiting for rescue in New Bern early Friday morning. Friday at 5 am, 200 people had already been rescued, according to Colleen Roberts, an information officer in the city. New Bern experienced a major flood after the overflow of the banks of the Neuse and the flooding of the city.
According to a gauge from the USGS, the flood of the river peaked at 10.1 feet on the Neuse. The roads were covered with floodwater in what was to be the first of many flooding waves that were getting worse.
The first flood was reported near N.C. 12, the road that runs through the Outer Banks – the chain of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina. The State Transportation Department reported that water and sand covered the road near Rodanthe and Avon, Buxton, and just north of Hatteras village.
(PLUS: Check out the latest forecast for Hurricane Florence)
More than 12.5 inches of rain was measured on Atlantic Beach on Thursday night, according to the USGS.
Before the storm, Governor Roy Cooper ordered the mandatory evacuation of all barrier islands; evacuation orders are usually issued locally and several areas have already ordered evacuations before Cooper's decree.
Storm surges have spread throughout the afternoon on the roads and have spread to homes located on the state's beaches, including on the beach. 39, Avon., Carolina Beach and Topsail Beach.
Carolina Beach officials announced at 10:30 pm Thursday, the Snow's Cut Bridge was closed.
A storm surge 10 feet above normal was reported at the Cherry Branch ferry terminal on the Neuse at Havelock. A gauge at Oriental on the Neuse recorded a water height of about 6.0 feet above normal levels, the National Meteorological Service said.
At a press conference on Thursday night, Cooper said flooding was also reported along the Cape Fear River, which flows south of Wilmington, and at Bogue Sound, south of the city. Morehead. He said that the wind and the waves carried water on the roads along the coast.
"In North Carolina, we have to move from preparation to determination, we will survive that and we will support it," said Cooper.
As Florence's strong winds shifted to the coast, the service station racks were torn off their supports and the trees tipped over.
Mike Sprayberry, director of emergency management, said some 12,000 people were in 126 evacuation shelters. The governor said 750,000 to 1 million people had complied with the evacuation orders.
From 5am on Friday, over 275,000 homes and businesses were without electricity, according to PowerOutage.US.
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Michael Nelson floats in a boat made from a metal tank and fishing floats after the Neuse crossed its banks and flooded its street during Hurricane Florence on September 13, 2018 in New Bern, England. North Carolina. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)
