Hurricane Florence strengthened to a Category 4 storm Monday early afternoon as it continued to rapidly intensify on its path toward the Carolinas and the Mid-Atlantic coast. The National Hurricane Center said around 12 p.m. Monday that Florence was rapidly strengthening into a major hurricane with sustained winds near 130 mph. The governors of North and South Carolina and Virginia declared states of emergency far ahead of landfall, while mandatory evacuation was ordered for the Outer Banks. Camp Lejeune has an extensive beachfront about 50 miles northeast of Wilmington, North Carolina, and it's well within the National Hurricane Center's forecast "cone." Meanwhile, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington has canceled classes and an upcoming alumni weekend, encouraging students to leave campus for a safer location.

Source: Fox News September 10, 2018 09:43 UTC