'We are coming to get you': Crews continue to rescue residents from flood waters

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WILMINGTON, N.C. — Hurricane Florence is already causing major destruction with heavy rain, strong winds, and life-threatening flooding.

[ [FLORENCE UPDATES: Eyewall of Cat 1 storm beginning to reach NC coast] ]

One of the places seeing impacts of Hurricane Florence is New Bern, N.C. The city tweeted early Friday morning that two out-of-state FEMA teams were working on swift-water rescues and more teams were on their way.

The city said early Friday morning, about 150 people were waiting to be rescued from their homes.

Mayor Dana Outlaw told The Today Show teams of first responders initially rescued 200 residents, according to WCTI.

City Spokeswoman Colleen Roberts said more than 360 people were rescued by midafternoon Friday and 140 people are still waiting to be rescued, according to the Associated Press.

Officials said there are no reports of injuries or fatalities, but most of the city was without power and thousands of buildings had been damaged from the floodwaters.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation warned residents of major flooding in New Bern and said to consider all roads impassable at this point.

Officials said NCDOT will continue to provide updates on road conditions.

[TALES FROM THE COAST: Meteorologist John Ahrens' crew covering Florence]

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Channel 9 spoke with New Bern resident Krisann Blackwell who said her parents fled their home, but are now blocked by flood waters and are waiting to be rescued.

"They are a little bit closer to the river than I am but as long as I've known them living there, which has probably been close to 20 years, I don't think they've had anything like this at all," Blackwell said.

Roberts told the Associated Press early estimates show about 4,300 residences and 300 commercial buildings had been damaged, but she expects the number to increase.

The city urged those in flooding areas to move up to the second story of their homes or to an attic.

New Bern officials imposed a curfew starting Friday at 7 a.m. until Saturday at 7 a.m.

The Associated Press contributed to this article. 

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