President Trump arrives in South Carolina to tour Florence damage

HAVELOCK, NC (AP) - President Donald Trump arrived in Conway Wednesday afternoon as he continues a tour of the Carolinas reviewing the federal response to damage from Hurricane Florence.

"We're going to North Carolina. We'll then be heading to South Carolina," Trump told reporters before leaving the nation's capitol on Wednesday. "We're doing very well there but the rivers are cresting, they're just starting to crest. We're really just going to say hello to all of the folks from FEMA, the military, the people that are working so hard, and I think it'll be an incredible day."

The Federal Aviation Administration sent an alert to pilots in the Myrtle Beach area to expect "VIP movement" but did not provide further details.

Earlier, Trump arrived at a North Carolina church that is serving as a distribution center for supplies after Hurricane Florence. The president handed out food to people affected by the storm outside Temple Baptist Church in New Bern.

The area suffered significant damage, with branches down and piles of debris. Church volunteers have containers of hot dogs, chips and fruit and have been handing out food to people in need.

The president is visiting the region Wednesday after the powerful storm left widespread destruction and flooding. Officials cautioned that the flooding is not over yet.

Trump stressed his sympathy for the victims of the storm and pledged resources for recovery during an earlier storm briefing at a nearby marine base.

Trump is pledging to help the people affected by Hurricane Florence as he arrives in North Carolina to survey damage wrought by the powerful storm.

Trump says during a briefing by local and federal officials, "We will be there 100 percent" following flooding he described as "epic" and "hard to believe."

"There will be nothing left undone," he says.

Trump is also praising first responders during his visit to a coastal marine base, the first of several stops on his schedule.

Copyright 2018 WCSC. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved.