Florence is a beast.
This is a storm of the east coast of the US. It has a 9' (3m) storm surge. This is on top of the higher sea levels off the US east coast plus some land subsidence. No wonder officials have issued mandatory evacuation orders.
The other bad thing about Florence: like other cyclones Florence is moving more slowly so huge rainfall is going to pound and pound whatever area is under the cyclone. Forty inches of rain! That in a few days, cataclysmic flooding!
Some will “ride it out” hope they have bottled water and gas and non–perishable food for about a month, could be that long before power, gas and reticulated safe drinking water are restored and temperatures will be about 90–85°F—no fan or a/c.