High winds bring down old Polkton Shirt Factory as Florence approaches
ANSON COUNTY, NC (FOX 46 WJZY) - Strong winds caused the old Polkton Shirt Factory in Anson County to collapse Friday evening, several hours ahead of Florence's arrival to the greater Charlotte area.
Forecasters say Florence is now a tropical storm but will continue to threaten North and South Carolina with powerful winds and catastrophic freshwater flooding.
LINK: Latest on Florence
The devastating storm claimed the lives of at least four people, including a mother and her infant after a tree fell onto a home.
At a Friday conference call with FEMA, federal officials warned of widespread power outages, tree damage and "a lot of urban flooding issues."
Officials worry what will be thrown at them is rain and flooding. With winds picking up, all eyes are on neighboring rivers in Cramerton, like the South Fork Catawba River, which officials say, has flooded before.