My people just informed me that this is one of the worst storms to hit the East Coast in many years. Also, looking like a direct hit on North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Please be prepared, be careful and be SAFE!
160,000 families without power, Hurricane Florence attacks the coast of southern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina
Thursday, September 13, 2018
VietPress USA (Sept. 13, 2018): "On the forecast track, the center of Florence will approach the coasts of North and South Carolina later [Thursday night], then move near or over the coast of southern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina in the hurricane warning area on Friday," the NHC said. "A slow motion across portions of eastern and central South Carolina is forecast Friday night through Saturday night."
The center also spoke about the storm's power. "Little change in strength is expected before the eye of Florence reaches the coast, with slow weakening expected after the center moves inland or meanders near the coast," it said. "More significant weakening is forecast on Saturday as Florence moves farther inland over central South Carolina."
If you're getting ready for Florence, you can read about steps to prepare for the storm here and find emergency contacts here.
"Please be prepared, be careful and be SAFE!" President Trump tweeted Monday evening.
https://www.yahoo.com/gma/hurricane-florence-deliver-life-threatening-surges-rain-despite-092306390--abc-news-topstories.html
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Almost 160,000 without power as Hurricane Florence lashes North Carolina coast
Almost 160,000 without power as Hurricane Florence lashes North Carolina coast originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Hurricane Florence, with tropical storm-force winds hundreds of miles wide, began pounding the Carolina coastline on Thursday night as officials made last-minute pleas for residents to evacuate.
Here is the latest:
-- Hurricane-force winds are moving across portions of the North Carolina coast, and water levels were rising along parts of the coastline. The threat of tornadoes increases as Florence moves closer, with landfall expected Friday morning.
-- The storm surge is expected to worsen late Thursday and into early Friday during high tide in the Atlantic Ocean.
-- Around 11 p.m. local time, the storm was about 50 miles south of Morehead City, North Carolina, and 60 miles east-southeast of Wilmington. Florence was progressing northwest at about 6 mph. Earlier, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration observing site at Cape Lookout, North Carolina, reported sustained winds of 83 mph and a gust of 106 mph.
-- Though the storm, once a Category 4, was downgraded Thursday night to a Category 1 from a Category 2, the danger is very real. Parts of North Carolina may see as much as 40 inches of rain and storm surges could be as high as 13 feet.
"Flooding and the storm surge -- those are the two main things that kill people, and this storm is not letting up," North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said Thursday.
The storm will churn very slowly Friday and Saturday, extending the damaging winds and huge amounts of rain that will hit the same areas of North and South Carolina for 24 hours.
Harkers Island this morning around 1030 AM. Gusts to 58 MPH already. Tree limbs down in the area. Video credit: @CapeLookoutNPS #florence
-- High winds and floodwaters could knock power out for several days, if not longer, officials said. Almost 160,000 customers already were without power in North Carolina Thursday evening -- and that number is likely to rise.
'Don't risk your life'
Florence has prompted massive evacuations.
For those in an evacuation area, "there is still time to get out," Cooper said Thursday. "Don't risk your life riding out a monster storm."
"You're potentially risking the life of a first responder who would try to come and help you, and we don't need that," he added. "I know it's difficult to move, and I know that you are leaving things behind that you don't want to leave behind, but no possession is worth your life."
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster added: "Time is running out. Now is the time to go because that window of opportunity is closing on you very quickly."
