Hurricane Florence’s tropical storm-force winds begin lashing North Carolina, life-threatening storm surge and rain predicted

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Hurricane Florence’s tropical storm-force winds are starting to lash North Carolina and state officials are bracing for life-threatening storm surges and catastrophic flooding.

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Here is the latest:

— Wind gusts reached 59 mph near Diamond Shoals, North Carolina, Thursday morning.

— Landfall is expected Friday morning.

— The storm will move very slowly Friday and Saturday. This will extend the damaging winds and huge amounts of rain, which will hit the same areas of North and South Carolina for 24 hours.

PHOTO: Map shows the location of Hurricane Florence off the east coast of the U.S., Sept. 13, 2018. — Map shows the location of Hurricane Florence off the east coast of the U.S., Sept. 13, 2018.

PHOTO: Map shows the projected path of Hurricane Florence as it heads toward the east coast of the U.S., Sept. 13, 2018. — Map shows the projected path of Hurricane Florence as it heads toward the east coast of the U.S., Sept. 13, 2018.

— Though the storm, once a Category 4, was downgraded Wednesday night to a Category 2, the danger is very real.

— Parts of North Carolina may see as much as 40 inches of rain and the storm surges could be as high as 13 feet.

— “People do not live and survive to tell the tale about what their experience is like with storm surge,” Brock Long, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, told “Good Morning America.” “It’s the most deadly part of the hurricane.”

PHOTO: Marge Brown, 65, says goodbye to her father, George Brown, 90, before he is evacuated from a healthcare home in Morehead City, N.C., Sept. 12, 2018, as Hurricane Florence approaches the east coast. — Marge Brown, 65, says goodbye to her father, George Brown, 90, before he is evacuated from a healthcare home in Morehead City, N.C., Sept. 12, 2018, as Hurricane Florence approaches the east coast.

— North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper cautioned that high winds and floodwaters could knock power out “for several days if not longer.”

Ignoring evacuation calls

Florence has prompted massive evacuations along the Carolinas coasts but not everyone is packing their bags.

Kelly Salisbury said she’s staying put in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, even though most of the town has left.

“We’re on vacation and we have a week off and we came down from northern Virginia to have fun,” she told ABC News. “Play in the water, enjoy the sunshine. Until we can’t. See what happens.”

She continued, “Of course we’re worried. But we’re watching the news every day. We’re keeping track of it, seeing where it’s going to hit and what category it is. And if we feel the need to leave we’ll go. But we’re going to stay as long as we can.”

PHOTO: Sand bags surround homes on North Topsail Beach, N.C., Sept. 12, 2018, as Hurricane Florence threatens the coast. — Sand bags surround homes on North Topsail Beach, N.C., Sept. 12, 2018, as Hurricane Florence threatens the coast.

In Awendaw, South Carolina, Chris Johnson is staying behind to watch his house while his wife, Michele, is evacuating.

“I’m not sure if I could go out in the middle of the storm on a 12-foot ladder to replace a window but I could be on the inside and try to do something … or if the refrigerator goes out … I can take care of all of that,” Chris Johnson told ABC News.

Michele Johnson said she’s worried about her husband. But “I think he’s OK with me going so I don’t stress him out more. It’s probably good for our marriage,” she noted.

Added Chris, “I think with what we know right now [with the storm track] this is the best decision for us. I think it’s a great compromise. I’m glad we both came to the decision ourselves. Hopefully, the cell phone tower, which is not too far away, will still work. We can keep in touch.”