Hurricane Florence In DC: Flooding, Outages Possible

WASHINGTON, DC -- It looks like D.C. residents will be spared the worst of Hurricane Florence as it barrels toward the East Coast, but we aren't out of the woods yet. The storm is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane in the Carolinas and then move west instead of north toward us, but that could change and it is a wide storm that could cause impacts far away from its center.

The storm likely will hit the Carolinas or Southeastern Virginia late Thursday night and into early Friday morning. Experts are warning that while strong winds will cause problems on the coast, it is the heavy rains that could top 10 or even 15 inches in some areas that pose the real threat to people in inland areas.

“While we are monitoring potential impacts of Hurricane Florence on the District, we remain committed to keeping our residents safe, prepared, and informed,” said Mayor Bowser in a statement. “I encourage all District residents and visitors to take this storm seriously and stay up to date on the latest emergency information, including signing up for our AlertDC messaging service.”

Residents in flood-prone areas should be especially cautious and take preventive measures now.

SEE ALSO: Hurricane Update: Florence Shifts Toward PG County

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Mayor Muriel Bowser shared the following with residents in a Sept. 11 statement:

District residents and visitors should:

Sign up for alerts at alertdc.dc.gov. AlertDC is your personal
connection to real-time updates and instructions to protect yourself,
your loved ones, and your neighborhood.

• Encourage family and friends in the storm’s path to listen to officials and have a plan on how you will communicate once the storm passes.
• Replenish your emergency supply kit, especially if you have dietary or medical needs. For a list of items you need, visit ready.dc.gov/kit.
• If you have access and/or functional needs, take steps to prepare in advance, including informing your support network of your emergency supplies and planning for your critical needs, such as transportation, power, and communications.
• Monitor local radio or TV stations for updated emergency information.
• Clean out your home’s gutters and empty out your rain barrels.
• Contact DC Water at (202) 612-3400 to report any clogged sewer basins and clean out any trash or litter around sewer basins.

Follow HSEMA’s Twitter and Facebook for updated information from the District on potential impacts.

ATLANTIC OCEAN - SEPTEMBER 10: In this NASA handout image taken by Astronaut Ricky Arnold, Hurricane Florence gains strength in the Atlantic Ocean as it moves west, seen from the International Space Station on September 10, 2018. Weather predictions say the storm will likely hit the U.S. East Coast as early as Thursday, September 13 bringing massive winds and rain. (Photo by NASA via Getty Images)