Hurricane Dorian: Here's When Torrential Rain Could Reach NC

NORTH CAROLINA — As Florida scrambles to prepare for the monster storm impact of Hurricane Dorian this weekend, North Carolina’s coastal areas are bracing for the potential arrival of torrential rain and winds early next week.

Hurricane Dorian was nearly a major hurricane as 110 mph winds arrived early Friday morning but the latest forecast now has the storm hitting Florida as a major hurricane at 8 a.m. Tuesday. The storm is expected to become a Category 3 hurricane by Friday afternoon as it churns toward Florida's east coast, the National Hurricane Center said early Friday morning.

Tropical force winds could begin in Florida as soon as Sunday morning, the National Hurricane Center said Aug. 30.

The risk of the storm growing to a strong category 4 before it makes landfall has increased, although where it will hit the coast and how strong it will be are still unknown. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded his state of emergency ahead of the storm to include the entire state as residents appear to have gained an extra day to stock up on water, gas, batteries and other storm essentials.

In North Carolina, emergency officials continue to monitor the storm’s potential impact on the state, which likely will be felt early next week. The North Carolina coast could see up to 4 inches of rain in the next week once the slow churning storm makes landfall, the National Weather Service said Aug. 30.

The National Weather Service in Wilmington issued a coastal flood advisory from southeast North Carolina to northeast South Carolina, saying that minor flooding during evening high tide along coastal areas, higher than normal rip current risks and rough surf could be expected over the Labor Day weekend.

Patch is tracking every move of Tropical Storm Dorian. Get all the updates on the storm by subscribing to Patch's free breaking news alerts and daily newsletters.

In Charlotte, emergency officials urged residents to get prepared, just in case. “As always, it is important for individuals and businesses to be prepared during hurricane season by building an emergency kit, establishing a family/business communication plan, and signing up for CharMeck Alerts at www.charmeckalerts.org.”

With Dorian’s approach to the southeast and the peak of hurricane season just ahead, the Internal Revenue Service reminded residents this week to develop an emergency preparedness plan that includes safeguarding documents. Taxpayers can begin getting ready for a disaster by securing and duplicating essential documents, creating lists of property and knowing where to find information once a disaster has occurred, according to a press release.

SEE ALSO:

• Hurricane Dorian: IRS Offers Tips In Preparing For Storm
• Hurricane Dorian: State Of Emergency Declared For GA Coast
• Publix, Floridians Find Humor During Wait For Hurricane Dorian

Hurricane Preparation Tips
Get Prepared:

• Take action now to be prepared for hurricane season. As the storm approaches, it is often too late to get ready. Make sure you have family evacuation and communications plans, update your emergency supply kit, and evaluate your flood insurance needs.

• Complete a family communication plan. Plan how you will assemble your family and loved ones and anticipate where you will go for different situations. Get together with your family and agree on the ways to contact one another in an emergency and identify meeting locations.
• Create or restock your emergency kit. Being prepared means having your own food, water and other supplies to last for at least 72 hours. A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency, including an all weather radio.
• Check your insurance coverage. Most homeowner's insurance policies do not cover damage or losses from flooding. Review your policy, ensure you're adequately covered and understand exclusions, and contact your agent for any changes.
• Stay Informed. Know where to go for trusted sources of information during a hurricane event. Monitor local news resources for hurricane watches and warnings and follow directions of local officials.
• Determine Your Risk. Find out what types of wind and water hazards are likely in your area. Hurricanes are not just a coastal problem and their effects can reach hundreds of miles inland. Since the U.S. has not been hit by a major hurricane (category 3 or higher) in over a decade, "many people are suffering from hurricane amnesia in the forms of complacency, denial and inexperience."
• Develop an Evacuation Plan. Find out if you live in a storm surge hurricane evacuation zone or if your home is unfit to keep you safe in a hurricane. Speak with family and friends and work out a plan to use their home as an evacuation destination. Be sure to account for pets, since many shelters do not allow them.
• Assemble Disaster Supplies. Supplies are necessary not just for the storm itself, but for the often long and grueling aftermath. Stock up on non-perishable food, water and medicine to support your family for at least a week. Other recommended items are cash and battery-powered radios and flashlights. Since many of us use cell phones, have a solar-powered or hand-crank USB charger.
• Know Your Risk and Plan Ahead for an Evacuation.Know how to receive information including recommendations or orders to evacuate.
• If you plan to go to a shelter, notify staff of any special needs you or your family have.
• Do not return to the evacuation area until the evacuation order is lifted.

Technology has made it easier to prepare for emergencies, but it can be unreliable during big storms if you haven't planned to keep your gadgets protected and powered up. Here are some tips to make sure you are tech ready:

• Download the FEMA app. Receive weather alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five different locations anywhere in the United States. To search for open shelters (for disaster survivors): text SHELTER and a Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA)

• Make A Social Media Plan. Use text messages, social media and email to connect with friends and family during emergencies.

• Mobile networks can become overwhelmed during emergencies, making it difficult to place and receive phone calls. Text messages require less bandwidth, which means they are able to be transmitted more reliably.
• Social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter can also be an effective way to update family and friends during emergencies. Facebook's Safety Check feature allows users to easily post a status update indicating that they are safe during a time of disaster.

• Register with American Red Cross's Safe & Well site to let family and friends know you're okay.
• Have an emergency charging option for your phone and other mobile devices. Smartphones have become a vital tool to receive emergency alerts and warnings,, so it's important to make sure you can keep them powered up in an emergency.
• At home: Before severe weather, charge all of your electronic devices. If the power goes out, preserve battery power by minimizing device use. Keep a back-up power source on hand to recharge your phone so that you can stay connected even during an extended power outage.
• In your car: Keep a portable phone charger in your vehicle at all times, and consider purchasing a back-up power supply to keep in your vehicle as well.
• Change the settings on your phone to low power mode or place it on airplane mode to conserve energy.

• Store important documents in a secure, password-protected jump drive or in the cloud.
• Capture electronic versions of important documents such as insurance policies, identification documents, and medical records. Don't forget to include your pet's information.
• Back-up your computer to protect photos and other personally important electronic documents.
• Scan old photos to protect them from loss.

Additional information can be found on the Ready NC website.

Patch Editors Paul Scicchitano and Deb Belt contributed.