>> indra, it's amazing to see. >> at least 20 counties here now in a state of emergency. hurricane arthur making landfall at 11:15 thursday night. cnn's renee march camped out at atlantic beach when it hit >> reporter: winds are extremely strong and if you take a look at the skies you can see them lighting up. that's not lightning but transformers blowing out meaning people are without power at this point. >> reporter: despite the darkness along the outer banks north carolina's governor told the thousands without power to stay inside? wait for this storm to leave for a long period of time before you venture to the outside. >> the now category 2 hurricane living up to emergency manager fears. >> tree broken and crashed into this house here. >> sustained winds of at least 100 miles per hour. storm surges and dangerous rip currents are warding off fourth of july beach-goers. >> we want to warn our sustenance up the coast and our