Hurricane Florence In PG County: Flooding, Outages Possible

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD -- Prince George's County authorities are preparing for the worst as Hurricane Florence barrels toward the East Coast. The storm is expected to make landfall as a Category 4 and then make its way slowly up to our region, bringing huge quantities of rain with it.

The storm likely will hit the Carolinas or Southeastern Virginia late Thursday night and into early Friday morning, and then head for the D.C. area. 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.

"Though uncertainty remains, all forecasts mention the potential for damaging to catastrophic rainfall in Prince George’s County," the county said in a statement. "The OHS/OEM encourages everyone to make plans now to keep your family, neighbors and pets safe."

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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The county offers the following advice to residents:

Be Informed:

• Register for Alert Prince George’s.
• Monitor local media and weather service information.
• Follow the Office of Emergency Management on Facebook and Twitter.

Develop a plan:

• Visit the OEM Preparedness Center (PDF) for more information.
• Ensure that all family members are aware of the plan and what to do in an emergency.

Create a kit:

• Know what essential items are needed in your kit.
• Ensure it is unique to fit the needs of your family and pets.

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)