Reports: Deteriorating conditions leave nearly 300,000 without power as Hurricane Florence targets Carolinas

Hurricane Florence is inching onshore as a dangerous, life-threatening storm.

"Florence has slowed to a crawl as expected, and this will only exacerbate the flooding situation for the Carolinas from now through Sunday," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Matt Rinde.

Eastern US coast prepares for Hurricane Florence

AP Photo/Garret Fischer

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(AP Photo/Tom Copeland)

Waves from Hurricane Florence pound the Bogue Inlet Pier in Emerald Isle N.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018.

(AP Photo/Tom Copeland)

A work truck drives on Hwy 24 as the wind from Hurricane Florence blows palm trees in Swansboro N.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018.

(Photo/NASA Astronaut Ricky Arnold)

Hurricane Florence as seen from the International Space Station on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018.

(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Fishermen launch a boat as they attempt to recover their haul-seine fishing net, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Virginia Beach, Va., as Hurricane Florence moves towards the eastern shore.

(AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

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

(AP Photo/Mic Smith)

A gas station in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, alerts motorists that it is out of gas due to the heavy demand caused by Hurricane Florence Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018.

(AP Photo/Mic Smith)

Preston Guiher carries a sheet of plywood as he prepares to board up a Wells Fargo bank in preparation for Hurricane Florence in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, Sept. 11, 2018.

(Instagram photo/@kellybinderim)

There is no traffic on eastbound lanes of Interstate 26 in South Carolina from Columbia to Charleston as evacuees are directed away from the coast ahead of Florence's arrival.

(Twitter photo/Sarah Shinners)

Vehicles line up at a Costco gas station in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, on Sept. 10, 2018, to fuel up before Hurricane Florence's arrival on the East Coast.

(AP Photo/Mic Smith)

Walker Townsend (right), from Isle of Palms, South Carolina, fills a sandbag held by Dalton Trout, in a municipal parking lot where sand is distributed free of charge in preparation for Hurricane Florence's arrival.

(AP Photo/Mic Smith)

Police cars block the Ashley Phosphate Road exit ramp off Interstate 26 in North Charleston, South Carolina, as both sides of the highway flow westbound toward Columbia, South Carolina, on Sept. 11, 2018.

(AP Photo/Mic Smith)

Larry Pierson, from the Isle of Palms, South Carolina, purchases bottled water from the Harris Teeter grocery store in preparation for Hurricane Florence on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018.

(Instagram photo/@trendingtasha)

Shelves are bare at a Walmart in Wake Forest, North Carolina, on Sept. 10, 2018, as residents stock up on water and supplies before Florence arrives.

(AP Photo/Mic Smith)

Residents of the Isle of Palms, South Carolina, fill sand bags at the Isle of Palms municipal lot, where the city was giving away free sand in preparation for Hurricane Florence on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018.

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Wolpert/U.S. Navy via AP)

In this Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, photo released by the U.S. Navy, the guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze departs Naval Station Norfolk after the announcement of Hurricane Florence, in Norfolk, Virginia.

(Image via Erin McNeill)

The Oceanic restaurant boarded up in preparation of Florence in Wrightsville Beach near Wilmington, North Carolina.

(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Laura Gretch, Humane Rescue Alliance transport manager, holds an 8-year-old Chihuahua mix as she helps unload 26 cats and dogs arriving in Washington on Tuesday Sept. 11, 2018, from Norfolk Animal Care and Control in Virginia in advance of Florence.

(AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

An onlooker checks out the heavy surf at the Avalon Fishing Pier in Kill Devil Hills, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 as Hurricane Florence approaches the east coast.

(AP Photo/David Goldman)

Korea war veteran Ed Coddington and wife Esther wait with Markia McCleod, her aunt and daughter in a shelter for Hurricane Florence to pass after evacuating from their nearby homes in Conway, South Carolina, on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018.

(AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Heavy surf crashes the dunes at high tide in Nags Head, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 as Hurricane Florence approaches the east coast.

(Image via Extreme Meteorologist Reed Timmer)

Drone footage above Topsail Beach, NC approaching high tide ahead of Hurricane Florence.

(Image via Brunswick County Sheriff's Office)

Bay Street area in Southport, North Carolina flooding before Florence makes landfall.

(Image via Brunswick County Sheriff's Office)

Bay Street in Southport, North Carolina flooding as Florence approaches.

(Image via Brunswick County Sheriff's Office)

Bay Street in Southport, North Carolina turning into a river. While this area collects water at high tide everyday, the water will rise more during Florence.

(U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Bret Tindal)

Petty Officer 1st Class Mike McHuge from the Coast Guard Gulf Strike Team checks the outboard engine of one of the Shallow Water Urban Search and Rescue boats staged in Augusta, Georgia, Sept. 13, 2018.

(U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Bret Tindal)

Coast Guard crews from across the U.S. are strategically relocating personnel and assets for the Hurricane Florence post-storm response.

(U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Bret Tindal)

Petty Officer 1st Class Jack Fielden from the Coast Guard Gulf Strike Team checks the outboard engine of one of the Shallow Water Urban Search and Rescue boats.

(Image via the Virginia National Guard)

Soldiers assigned to the 2-183rd CAV pulled out their combat rubber raiding crafts today to conduct pre-mission checks in advance of #HurricaneFlorence. These Soldiers are among more than 1,300 Virginia National Guard personnel staged for possible hurricane response.

(Image via FEMA Region 4)

Urban search and rescue teams begin unloading equipment in North Carolina in preparation for Hurricane Florence.

(Image via FEMA Region 4)

Urban search and rescue teams begin unloading equipment in North Carolina in preparation for Hurricane Florence.

(Image via FEMA Region 4)

Urban search and rescue teams begin unloading equipment in North Carolina in preparation for Hurricane Florence.

Officials declared a state of emergency in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland in preparation for significant rainfall, flooding storm surge and damaging winds.

"We expect the eye of Hurricane Florence to reach the coast near Wilmington, North Carolina, early Friday morning," AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski said.

Download the free AccuWeather app to stay up-to-date with Florence's expected track and impacts to the eastern U.S. coast.

AccuWeather correspondents are live in the Carolinas bringing you coverage on our apps, AccuWeather.com and the AccuWeather Network.

5:40 a.m. EDT Friday:

About 70 people have been evacuated from the Triangle Motor Inn in Jacksonville, North Carolina, after hurricane-force winds compromised the hotel's structural integrity, according to reports. No one was found to be injured.

Meanwhile, in New Bern, North Carolina, more than 100 people were awaiting rescue as devastating storm surge impacted the waterfront city.