First deaths from Hurricane Florence reported in North Carolina

Police in North Carolina on Friday confirmed the first deaths related to Hurricane Florence, which is bearing down on the Carolinas.

The Wilmington Police Department said that a mother and infant were killed when a tree fell on their house on Friday.

Police said the father has also been transferred to an area hospital with injuries. His condition was not immediately clear.

WPD can confirm the first two fatalities of Hurricane #Florence in Wilmington. A mother and infant were killed when a tree fell on their house. The father was transported to NHRMC with injuries. https://t.co/FC5PAhuxig

— Wilmington Police (@WilmingtonPD) September 14, 2018

Two more deaths were reported Friday in North Carolina, with authorities saying that Florence was a factor in the passing of a person who died while plugging in a generator in Lenoir County.

{mosads}A female with a medical condition also died after emergency services were unable to get to her in time because of downed trees in Pender County, according to NBC News.

President Trump is expected to visit areas affected by the storm sometime next week “once it is determined his travel will not disrupt any rescue or recovery efforts,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told The Hill on Friday.

Florence made landfall in North Carolina at 7:15 a.m. EDT on Friday near Wrightsville Beach, N.C., according to the National Hurricane Center.

Federal and local officials have been urging residents for days to heed evacuation orders and make preparations for Florence.

Although Florence was downgraded to a Category 1 storm late Thursday, officials have stressed that it remains dangerous.

As of 6 a.m. EDT, gusts in North Carolina were reaching 72 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

#Florence remains a dangerous hurricane just tens of miles off the NC coast. The worst impacts will continue overnight. #ncwx https://t.co/JtceI2AEyz

— NWS Newport/Morehead (@NWSMoreheadCity) September 14, 2018

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (R) declared a state of emergency last week ahead of the storm, and ordered evacuations from coastal communities throughout the week.

Trump in a tweet on Friday commended the work being done by FEMA, first responders and law enforcement in handling the storm.

Updated: 4:27 p.m.