STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Obama Declares State of Emergency in South Carolina Over Hurricane Joaquin

Storm causes flash floods and forced evacuations along the East Coast.

As Hurricane Joaquin barrels across the East Coast, reports of damage and possible fatalities are coming in. President Obama declared a State of Emergency in South Carolina, the state hardest-hit, in order to direct resources toward the "catastrophic flooding" that has washed through the area.

Though Joaquin remains off shore, the Category 4 hurricane is wreaking havoc across the Southeast and Tennessee Valley, causing flash floods and forcing evacuations. The storm is due to hit Bermuda late Sunday or early Monday morning. 

HOW TO PREPARE FOR A HURRICANE

What's more, a U.S.-bound container ship named El Faro has been missing for more than 36 hours. The ship last made contact early Thursday near the Bahamas, and has 33 people aboard. The U.S. Coast Guard, Navy and Air Force were called in Sunday for search efforts, reports CBS.

"We've got to stay positive," said Laurie Bobillot, of Rockland, Maine. Her daughter is a second mate on the ship.

Another rescue mission was successful, CNN reports. On Thursday night, the Coast Guard helicopter lifted 12 sailors from their sinking 212-foot cargo ship 51 miles northwest of Haiti. The 12 crew members were in a life raft and belonged to the Bolivian-flagged cargo ship Minouche.
Prayers up for the safe return of El Faro and her crew members. 

BET National News - Keep up to date with breaking news stories from around the nation, including headlines from the hip hop and entertainment world.

Watch: Katrina Only Made Me Stronger in the video below.

(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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