Hurricane Dorian: NC Activates National Guard, SC Evacuations

NORTH CAROLINA — Hurricane Dorian, the strongest storm on record to ever hit the Bahamas, continued its slow churn toward the North Carolina coast Monday, prompting warnings the coastal area of the state could see dangerous storm surge and heavy rains up to 15 inches before the end of the week. In South Carolina, evacuations began Monday in the Charleston region, where a hurricane watch has been issued.

“In the next 24 hours, we expect the storm to turn north, and pick up speed,” Gov. Roy Cooper said Monday afternoon.

While the state has not issued mandatory evacuations along the coast, some local jurisdictions are considering or announcing them. Dare County, for example, announced Monday afternoon there would be mandatory evacuations for tourists starting Tuesday morning and for residents Wednesday morning. “I urge you to listen to your local officials,” Cooper said. “If they order an evacuation, please follow their instructions.”

The state has activated 300 National Guard members ahead of the storm’s strike. “Today I asked the president for federal disaster declaration in anticipation of the storm’s damage so that we can get federal help if we need it,” Cooper added.

As of 5 p.m. Monday evening, the Category 4 monster storm was about 100 miles east of West Palm Beach, Florida, clocking sustained wind speeds of 145 miles per hour and creating devastating impacts on Grand Bahamas Island.

SEE ALSO:

• Charlotte Speedway Campground Opens To Hurricane Evacuees
• Tourists Evacuated From NC Barrier Islands Ahead Of Hurricane

South Carolina Evacuations

Gov. Henry McMaster has ordered the evacuation of coastal South Carolina residents as Hurricane Dorian approaches. Residents in these zones must evacuate starting Monday, Sept. 2:

Southern Coast

• Colleton County Evacuation Zones A, B
• Beaufort County Evacuation Zone A
• Jasper County Evacuation Zone A

Central Coast

• Charleston County Evacuation Zones A, B, C
• Dorchester County Evacuation Zone D
• Berkeley County Evacuation Zones B, G

Northern Coast

• Horry County Evacuation Zone A
• Georgetown County Evacuation Zone A

To find out whether they are in evacuation zones, South Carolinians can use the “Know Your Zone” tool on SCEMD’s website. Evacuation shelter locations are online.

A hurricane watch — which means hurricane-force winds are possible within the next 48 hours — has been issued for Charleston, McClellanville and Edisto Island in South Carolina. A storm surge watch is also in place for that area.

Hurricane Dorian had essentially stalled about 100 miles off the coast by 5 p.m. Monday. The first tropical storm watch was issued in central Florida, with Highland and Polk counties under a watch, as Dorian crept westward. Disney World's theme parks in Orlando will close early on Tuesday, Sept. 3.

North Carolina declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm, which triggers the state's anti-price gouging laws and removes transportation restrictions for fuel and equipment needed to mobilize for storm cleanup, the governor's office said.

Dorian will remain a very powerful storm over the next few days, the NWS warned. The coastal Carolinas and Georgia, specifically, should prepare for 5 to 10 inches of storm surge flooding, and up to 15 inches in spots.

While most forecasts show Dorian shifting northward before hitting the mainland, forecasters warned Monday morning that landfall on the Florida coast was still a possibility.

Tropical storm-force winds could begin in south Florida as soon as Monday afternoon and continue into Tuesday and Wednesday and could reach hurricane-force Tuesday depending how close to the coast Dorian tracks.

"Pay attention to the cone," Ken Graham, director of the National Hurricane Center, said in a briefing. "The cone means the center (of the storm) could be anywhere in the cone two-thirds of the time based on our average error for the track forecast over the last five years."

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

How To Prepare

North Carolina emergency officials say residents across the state should be sure they:

• Have multiple ways to receive weather information from reliable sources.
• Review your personal emergency plan and know your evacuation routes.
• Check your emergency supply kit, which should contain food, water, prescription medicines, charging cords, batteries, and other essentials to support your family for several days.
• Be sure to plan for elderly relatives and pets.
• Make sure your insurance is up to date.

For more information on how to ensure your family is disaster ready, go to ReadyNC.org or download the free ReadyNC app, which features traffic, power outage and shelter information. Also, check to see if your local community offers an emergency alert service for its residents.

SEE ALSO:

• Hurricane Dorian: Bahamas Battered As Storm Threatens U.S. Coast
• 7.3 Million U.S. Homes At Risk From Hurricane Storm Surge: Report
• Hurricane Dorian Now Category 5, Threatens Georgia, Carolinas
• Hurricane Dorian: Here's When Torrential Rain Could Reach NC