1.5 million people were ordered to evacuate as Hurricane Florence gathers power as it aims towards the Eastern Seaboard.

Currently carrying winds of up to 140 mph as a Category 4 storm, Hurricane Florence is expected to approach Category 5 status later in the week.

Warning that Hurricane Florence has potential to cause “massive damage” to parts of the southeastern and mid-Atlantic United States — and not just in the coastal areas — many are heeding the warning and heading out of harm’s way.