Hurricane Florence In Photos: Calm Before The Storm

Hurricane Florence is making a beeline for the Carolinas, bringing with it torrential rain and ferocious winds. Vital measures are underway in anticipation of the Category 2 storm's incoming wrath. Photos show boarded windows, sandbags and people seeking shelter.

Below is a series of images showing the latest on Hurricane Florence. Patch will update this list daily with the latest photos.

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Waves crash underneath the Oceana Pier as the outer bands of Hurricane Florence being to affect the coast. Coastal cities in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia are under evacuation orders as the Category 2 hurricane approaches the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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A spray painted message is left on a boarded up condominium in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Flash flooding covers the road in low-lying areas in this image taken by Atlantic Beach. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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An onlooker checks out the heavy surf at the Avalon Fishing Pier in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina as Hurricane Florence approaches the east coast. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

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Here, police are seen patrolling past boarded up shops along the boardwalk in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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Dark clouds are already visible as evident in the above view taken from Hatteras Island in North Carolina. (Steve Earley /The Virginian-Pilot via AP)

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Many in danger of Hurricane Florence's path have temporarily relocated to shelters. Korea war veteran, Ed Coddington, 83, second from right, and wife Esther, 78, wait with Markia McCleod, rear, her aunt Ernestine McCleod and daughter Keymoni, 4, wait patiently in a shelter for Hurricane Florence to pass after evacuating from their nearby homes in Conway, South Carolina. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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Just down the hall Vickie Grate, left, also waits in the shelter with her son Chris, center, and his girlfriend Sarah. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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Hurricane Florence is coming closer and only getting stronger as travels on a path where it will eventually squat over North and South Carolina for days. While this aerial view provided by NASA may be beautiful to view, it shows just how extreme the storm's oncoming threats truly are. (NASA via AP)

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Earlier this week, preparations were already underway in North Carolina. "These storms can be very disruptive to regional economies, and it takes time for them to recover,” said Ryan Sweet, an economist at Moody’s Analytics. Crews are seen above boarding up the Oceanic Restaurant in Wrightsville Beach. (Matt Born/The Star-News via AP, File)

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Other small businesses in Wrightsville Beach were quick to follow! (Top: Ken Blevins/Star News via AP, Bottom: Matt Born/The Star-News via AP, File)

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Many residents wasted no time as numerous homes were seen installing hurricane shutters or putting down existing ones. Here Chris Brace from Charleston installs special protection on a residential home at Sullivan's Island in South Carolina after Governor Henry McMaster ordered an evacuation on the area. (AP Photo/Mic Smith)

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Communities were seen uniting to help out their fellow neighbors. Above, Walker Townsend fills a sand bag at the Isle of Palms municipal lot where the city was giving away free sand. Sandbags are vital in helping to protect entryways when preparing for a hurricane. Below, Adam Bazemore uses them to pack down his doorways in the Willoughby Spit area of Norfolk, Virginia.

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As locals prepped their businesses and homes to battle the worst of Hurricane Florence, larger retailers saw a rush of fearful crowds hoping to get any necessary last minute supplies. Lines can be seen outside a Home Depot store in Wilmington, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

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Portable generators are among some of the first items people have been rushing to get their hands on as the storm churns towards North Carolina's coast. (Ken Blevins/Star News via AP)

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Extension cords too! (Ken Blevins/Star News via AP)

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In the top photo, Larry Pierson from the Isle of Palms in South Carolina can be seen purchasing a case of water from his local market as grocery stores also have been seeing large crowds ahead of Florence. (Top: AP Photo/Mic Smith, Bottom: AP Photo/The Post and Courier,Grace Beahm Alford)

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Gas stations saw no shortage of customers either. Here Sarah Dankanich of Wilmington removes an "out of service" wrapper from a gas pump as the lot behind her fills with customers. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

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Above, Emmett West of Morehead City pulls his boat from a nearby marina to secure it at his home. Everything must be accounted for. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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The White House even took to the Oval Room to discuss how to tackle the slew of violent threats made by Hurricane Florence. Above, President Trump speaks during a briefing with an image of the storm's path displayed behind him. (Shutterstock)

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As crowds flocked to prepare for the worst of Hurricane Florence, others used the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the calm before the storm. Alexis Browning of Wrightsville took in some of summer's last few rays as the Florence's wrath is not expected to hit until later this the week. (Ken Blevins/Star News via AP)

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Lead photo credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images