North Carolina braced for a "long night" of strong winds and driving rain as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/leaving-bahamas-devastated-dorian-regains-strength-as-it-crawls-up-us-coast-247734">Hurricane Dorian</a> closed in on the coast Thursday after devastating the northern Bahamas, where it left at least 30 people dead and thousands homeless.

Authorities in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-continues-to-defend-incorrect-map-of-hurricane-dorian-path-247743">state of Florida</a> -- which was largely spared by the storm -- blamed six more deaths on the hurricane, US media reported, though they occurred as the victims were preparing for the storm's arrival or were evacuation-related.

US weather forecasters warned that some areas of the Carolina coast could see dangerous storm surge of up to seven feet (2.1 meters) and between six and 12 inches of rain.

"We know we're in for a long night and we'll be eager to see the sunshine in the morning," North Carolina's Governor Roy Cooper told CNN.

The slow-moving monster storm also spawned several tornadoes but there were no immediate reports of casualties.

Many residents of coastal Carolina heeded evacuation orders while others battened down their homes with plywood and prepared to ride out the tempest.&nbsp;

Watch: Trump Displays an Altered Hurricane Dorian Map

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At 8:00 pm (0000 GMT), the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Dorian was a Category 2 storm packing winds of 100 miles per hour (160 kilometers per hour).

It was located about 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of Cape Fear in North Carolina, and moving up the coast in a northeast direction at 10 miles per hour (17 kilometers per hour).

US President Donald Trump tweeted that he had spoken to the governors of North and South Carolina, telling them he is "ready to assist."

Dorian was a Category 5 hurricane -- the highest on the five-level wind scale -- when it slammed into the northern Bahamas on Sunday, leaving a trail of unimaginable destruction.

An AFP team in the town of Marsh Harbour on Great Abaco on Thursday saw scenes of catastrophic damage with homes reduced to matchsticks, overturned cars, fields of jumbled debris, widespread flooding and beached boats.

Teams of men in masks and white protective suits were seen loading corpses encased in green body bags onto a flatbed truck.

Storm-dazed residents were out on the streets dragging suitcases containing their most precious possessions.

'Hell everywhere'

The full extent of the damage in the northern Bahamas was becoming known on Thursday as rescue teams fanned out searching for survivors and bringing relief to victims.

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis told CNN that at least 30 people were killed in the storm, which caused what he called "generational devastation." The death toll is expected to rise.

The United Nations said 70,000 people in the Bahamas were in immediate need of aid.

"It's hell everywhere," said Brian Harvey, a Canadian from Montreal, told AFP in Great Abaco.

"I was on my sailboat," Harvey said. "I lost everything."

"We need to get out of here," he added. "It's been four or five days. It's time to move and get out of here."

Steven Turnquest, who arrived in Nassau from Marsh Harbour with his four- and seven-year-old sons after weathering the storm, told AFP he was grateful to be alive.

Speaking of his sons, Turnquest said he prayed to God to "take me and let them live."

"I survived the hurricane holding on to a door," he added.

Looters warned

Amid fears of lawlessness in the ravaged storm zone, Minnis warned that any looters will be prosecuted "to the fullest extent of the law," and additional police and defense force officers deployed.

US and British helicopters were conducting medical evacuations, aerial assessments to help coordinate relief efforts, and reconnaissance flights to assess the damage.

The US Coast Guard said it had rescued 201 people in the Bahamas as of Thursday using multiple helicopters and Coast Guard cutters.

The UN's World Food Program said it had eight tons of ready-to-eat meals poised to arrive in the Bahamas.

The WFP is organizing an airlift from the UN hub in Panama of storage units, generators, and prefab offices for two logistics hubs to be established on the main islands, it said. 
&nbsp;

North Carolina braced for a "long night" of strong winds and driving rain as Hurricane Dorian closed in on the coast Thursday after devastating the northern Bahamas, where it left at least 30 people dead and thousands homeless.

North Carolina braced for a "long night" of strong winds and driving rain as Hurricane Dorian closed in on the coast Thursday after devastating the northern Bahamas, where it left at least 30 people dead and thousands homeless. Authorities in the state of Florida -- which was largely spared by the storm -- blamed six more deaths on the hurricane, US media reported, though they occurred as the victims were preparing for the storm's arrival or were evacuation-related. US weather forecasters warned that some areas of the Carolina coast could see dangerous storm surge of up to seven feet (2.1 meters) and between six and 12 inches of rain. "We know we're in for a long night and we'll be eager to see the sunshine in the morning," North Carolina's Governor Roy Cooper told CNN. The slow-moving monster storm also spawned several tornadoes but there were no immediate reports of casualties. Many residents of coastal Carolina heeded evacuation orders while others battened down their homes with plywood and prepared to ride out the tempest. Watch: Trump Displays an Altered Hurricane Dorian Map × At 8:00 pm (0000 GMT), the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Dorian was a Category 2 storm packing winds of 100 miles per hour (160 kilometers per hour). It was located about 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of Cape Fear in North Carolina, and moving up the coast in a northeast direction at 10 miles per hour (17 kilometers per hour). US President Donald Trump tweeted that he had spoken to the governors of North and South Carolina, telling them he is "ready to assist." Dorian was a Category 5 hurricane -- the highest on the five-level wind scale -- when it slammed into the northern Bahamas on Sunday, leaving a trail of unimaginable destruction. An AFP team in the town of Marsh Harbour on Great Abaco on Thursday saw scenes of catastrophic damage with homes reduced to matchsticks, overturned cars, fields of jumbled debris, widespread flooding and beached boats. Teams of men in masks and white protective suits were seen loading corpses encased in green body bags onto a flatbed truck. Storm-dazed residents were out on the streets dragging suitcases containing their most precious possessions. 'Hell everywhere' The full extent of the damage in the northern Bahamas was becoming known on Thursday as rescue teams fanned out searching for survivors and bringing relief to victims. Prime Minister Hubert Minnis told CNN that at least 30 people were killed in the storm, which caused what he called "generational devastation." The death toll is expected to rise. The United Nations said 70,000 people in the Bahamas were in immediate need of aid. "It's hell everywhere," said Brian Harvey, a Canadian from Montreal, told AFP in Great Abaco. "I was on my sailboat," Harvey said. "I lost everything." "We need to get out of here," he added. "It's been four or five days. It's time to move and get out of here." Steven Turnquest, who arrived in Nassau from Marsh Harbour with his four- and seven-year-old sons after weathering the storm, told AFP he was grateful to be alive. Speaking of his sons, Turnquest said he prayed to God to "take me and let them live." "I survived the hurricane holding on to a door," he added. Looters warned Amid fears of lawlessness in the ravaged storm zone, Minnis warned that any looters will be prosecuted "to the fullest extent of the law," and additional police and defense force officers deployed. US and British helicopters were conducting medical evacuations, aerial assessments to help coordinate relief efforts, and reconnaissance flights to assess the damage. The US Coast Guard said it had rescued 201 people in the Bahamas as of Thursday using multiple helicopters and Coast Guard cutters. The UN's World Food Program said it had eight tons of ready-to-eat meals poised to arrive in the Bahamas. The WFP is organizing an airlift from the UN hub in Panama of storage units, generators, and prefab offices for two logistics hubs to be established on the main islands, it said.

North Carolina faces 'long night' as Dorian's Bahamas death toll rises to 30

Americans are piling power generators, bottled water, and other critical supplies into well-meaning mountains of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hurricane-dorian-skirts-us-carolinas-coast-with-high-winds-and-rain-248039">Bahamas hurricane</a> relief, but disaster response leaders say gathering goods complicates emergency aid and is not the best way to help.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez by Thursday afternoon had collected roughly 70 pallets of sanitizers, blankets, clothes and other necessities to ship to victims of Hurricane Dorian, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dorian-weakens-to-category-1-hurricane-tropical-storm-conditions-spreading-247954">monster Category 5 storm</a> that ravaged the Bahamas, killing at least 30 people, a figure official said was sure to rise.

Storm surge swamped Bahamian airports, leaving them underwater and unapproachable, so Suarez worked with Norwegian Cruise Line to transport the donations. Its ship "Breakaway" was set to depart Florida for the Bahamas at 8 p.m. (0000 GMT) on Thursday.

But sometimes the best intentions are not the best response, say, emergency responders.

"Decades of experience in disaster relief and recovery have shown that the best way to help people affected by disaster is to make cash donations to reputable relief and charitable organizations," Tom Babington, spokesman for United States Agency for International Development, said in an email.

"Cash donations also allow relief supplies to be purchased in markets close to the disaster site, which stimulates the local economy by providing employment and generating cash flow," he added.

The United Nations has estimated more than 76,000 people need humanitarian relief after the most damaging storm ever to hit the island nation.

Materials like canned food, tents and batteries typically require transportation costs, shipping delays, or customs fees, and force relief organizations to spend time managing goods rather than providing aid said Babington and American Red Cross spokeswoman Stephanie Rendon.

"In reality, donations like supplies could take a long time to process, clean, and sort, diverting time and attention away from people who need it most," Rendon said.

Shawn Marshall, an official with the Bahamas Consulate General Miami, said the diplomatic mission had set up drop-off points for goods to help the beleaguered islands. Boats ferrying supplies can dock at ports on hard-hit Abaco Island and Grand Bahamas, he said.

On the central Florida coast, Paul Berube gathered donated baby items, dog food, and other supplies at his boat dealership. He was working to have relief goods flown or shipped duty-free and without transport fees after a resort owner on Grand Bahama provided permits.

"I've had three different pilots call me and say, 'Hey, I see you're involved, I've got a plane, I'd like to transport'," Berube said.

Americans are piling power generators, bottled water, and other critical supplies into well-meaning mountains of Bahamas hurricane relief, but disaster response leaders say gathering goods complicates emergency aid and is not the best way to help.

Americans are piling power generators, bottled water, and other critical supplies into well-meaning mountains of Bahamas hurricane relief, but disaster response leaders say gathering goods complicates emergency aid and is not the best way to help. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez by Thursday afternoon had collected roughly 70 pallets of sanitizers, blankets, clothes and other necessities to ship to victims of Hurricane Dorian, the monster Category 5 storm that ravaged the Bahamas, killing at least 30 people, a figure official said was sure to rise. Storm surge swamped Bahamian airports, leaving them underwater and unapproachable, so Suarez worked with Norwegian Cruise Line to transport the donations. Its ship "Breakaway" was set to depart Florida for the Bahamas at 8 p.m. (0000 GMT) on Thursday. But sometimes the best intentions are not the best response, say, emergency responders. "Decades of experience in disaster relief and recovery have shown that the best way to help people affected by disaster is to make cash donations to reputable relief and charitable organizations," Tom Babington, spokesman for United States Agency for International Development, said in an email. "Cash donations also allow relief supplies to be purchased in markets close to the disaster site, which stimulates the local economy by providing employment and generating cash flow," he added. The United Nations has estimated more than 76,000 people need humanitarian relief after the most damaging storm ever to hit the island nation. Materials like canned food, tents and batteries typically require transportation costs, shipping delays, or customs fees, and force relief organizations to spend time managing goods rather than providing aid said Babington and American Red Cross spokeswoman Stephanie Rendon. "In reality, donations like supplies could take a long time to process, clean, and sort, diverting time and attention away from people who need it most," Rendon said. Shawn Marshall, an official with the Bahamas Consulate General Miami, said the diplomatic mission had set up drop-off points for goods to help the beleaguered islands. Boats ferrying supplies can dock at ports on hard-hit Abaco Island and Grand Bahamas, he said. On the central Florida coast, Paul Berube gathered donated baby items, dog food, and other supplies at his boat dealership. He was working to have relief goods flown or shipped duty-free and without transport fees after a resort owner on Grand Bahama provided permits. "I've had three different pilots call me and say, 'Hey, I see you're involved, I've got a plane, I'd like to transport'," Berube said.

Mosquito spray, diapers, flashlights cannot beat cash for Dorian relief

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North Carolina faces 'long night' as Dorian's Bahamas death toll rises to 30

Mosquito spray, diapers, flashlights cannot beat cash for Dorian relief