Hurricane Florence: Evacuations Begin Along NC Coast

DARE COUNTY, NC — North Carolina’s Outer Banks began mandatory evacuations Monday as the state prepared for Hurricane Florence, which by midday Monday, had reached a Category 4 status with winds close to 130 mph.

At 11 a.m. Sept. 10, Florence was located about 1,240 miles east-southeast of Cape Fear, N.C., moving west at about 13 mph, according to a National Hurricane Center advisory.

“Florence is expected to be an extremely dangerous major hurricane through Thursday,” the advisory said.

Dare County, which also includes Hatteras and the villages of Rodanthe, and Frisco, issued a mandatory evacuation of tourists beginning Sept. 10 at noon and a mandatory evacuation of residents beginning Tuesday at 7 a.m.

“Hurricane Florence is currently projected to be a category 3 or 4 storm at landfall in southeastern North Carolina and may bring life-threatening storm surge to Dare County, along with tropical storm force winds, heavy rains and the potential for tornadoes,” Dare County Emergency Management said in a statement Sept. 10. “Even a small northward shift in the track of the storm could bring devastating impacts to our area.”

County officials encourage residents to evacuate westbound on Highway 64 to Interstate 95.

“Evacuating through the rural areas to the west of Dare County will help avoid traffic backups and congestion that may prolong evacuation by traveling northbound through the Hampton Roads portion of Virginia,” DCEM said.

SEE ALSO:Hurricane Florence: Warning Of ‘Life-threatening Impacts' In NC

“We here in North Carolina are bracing for a hard hit,” Gov. Roy Cooper said Monday during a press conference, the News & Observer reported. The state has activated 200 of its National Guard troops and preparations are underway with other states who will provide necessary rescue assets, such as swift water rescue teams and heavy equipment, the newspaper said.

“Now is the time to review your emergency plans, not later when this storm is on our doorstep,” Cooper said. “Florence is a threat well beyond our coast,” Cooper said, adding that western North Carolina should prepare for landslides from rain.

Supplies are flying off the shelves at stores in the Carolinas and pets from South Carolina residents are being moved to animal shelters in Atlanta.

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Main Image: National Hurricane Center