Hurricane Florence to make landfall on Thursday; US President Trump sounds alert

With sustained winds of about 220km/h, Hurricane Florence is expected to make landfall late on Thursday.

According to prediction, the storm is expected to hit Wilmington, North Carolina.

Urging people to stay safe, Trump tweeted that it is one of the worst storms to hit the East Coast.

"My people just informed me that this is one of the worst storms to hit the East Coast in many years. Also, looking like a direct hit on North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Please be prepared, be careful and be SAFE!" the US President said.

In a follow up tweet, he said that his government is ready to provide assistance.

"Just had calls with South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, and Virginia Governor Ralph Northam regarding the incoming storm. Federal Government stands by, ready to assist 24/7," he said.

Reports said that a number of mandatory evacuation orders have been place in South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.

The said is said to affect more than a million people.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster tweeted: "I have ordered a full coastal evacuation effective noon tomorrow, Tuesday, September 11."

He said that some schools will be used as shelters and that public schools and state offices will remain closed, starting from Tuesday, until further notice.

"Public schools and state offices will be closed beginning tomorrow until further notice in twenty six counties: Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Beaufort, Barnwell, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Colleton, Clarendon, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, Jasper, Lexington, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Orangeburg, Richland, Sumter, and Williamsburg," he said.

"Some schools in the inland counties will be used as shelters, some school busses will be needed to assist in evacuation efforts, and we want to keep the roads as clear as possible for the one million evacuees we are expecting," McMaster added.