Florence could hit with punch not seen in more than 60 years

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The last time the midsection of the East Coast stared down a hurricane like Florence, Dwight Eisenhower was in the White House and Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio were newlyweds.

Florence could inflict the hardest hurricane punch the Carolinas have seen in more than 60 years, with rain and wind of more than 130 mph (209 kph). North Carolina has been hit by only one other Category 4 storm since reliable record keeping began in the 1850s. That was Hurricane Hazel in 1954.

FULL STORY: Evacuations ordered as Hurricane Florence strengthens to Category 4 storm

Florida is closer to the equator and in line with the part of the Atlantic where hurricanes are born, off the African coast.

As a result, Florida has had at least five hurricanes in the past century of Category 4 or greater, including Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

RELATED: Hurricane Florence prep: smartphone apps to help you stay safe