Hurricane Florence's impact was devastating, with severe flooding, wind damage, and power outages affecting large portions of North Carolina. The storm surge and heavy rainfall caused significant damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure, particularly in coastal and low-lying areas. The flooding was catastrophic, with river levels rising to unprecedented heights, leading to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of residents. Tragically, 42 lives were lost, and nearly 140,000 residents applied for disaster assistance. The storm highlighted the risks posed by extreme weather events, even when wind speeds are not at their peak.