Residents Asked To Check Storm Drains Ahead Of Hurricane

CHARLOTTE, NC — While the region is scrambling to prepare for Hurricane Florence, there’s one more thing area residents should do, according to a Charlotte fire official: clear out debris from storm drains.

“That can save us a flooding situation, if those storm drains are cleared out now while we can see them,” Charlotte Fire Battalion Chief Rob Cannon said Wednesday, WCNC reported.

Hurricane Florence’s trajectory shifted south overnight, upping the stakes for the Charlotte metro region as national weather officials urge residents in the Mid-Atlantic region to complete their preparations.

The shift in the storm’s projection means Charlotte would be right of the center of the storm, where wind and rain are the most damaging, the Charlotte Observer reported Wednesday.

“With conditions expected to begin to deteriorate Wednesday night, preparations should be completed by that time,” North Carolina Emergency Management said Tuesday evening.

At 2 p.m. Wednesday, Hurricane Florence was about 435 miles southeast of Wilmington, N.C. and about 470 miles east-southeast of Myrtle Beach, S.C., with sustained winds of 125 mph and moving at about 16 mph, according to a National Hurricane Center advisory.

By the time Florence strikes land, it is projected to be the “most intense storm to strike the region” since Hurricane Hugo in September 1999, the Washington Post said.

“With the winds and the amount of rain we’re going to see, we’re going to have trees down, power lines down, we’re going to lose power,” Charlotte Fire Chief Reginald Johnson said Wednesday. “Citizens should be preparing an emergency kit. Be prepared to be without power for three to four days, with water and non-perishable food,”

Shelters Open In Charlotte

According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, shelters staffed by Red Cross workers will be opening at:

• East Mecklenburg High School, 6800 Monroe Road, Charlotte
• South Mecklenburg High School, 8900 Park Road, Charlotte
• North Mecklenburg High School, 11201 Old Statesville Road, Huntersville
• Olympic High School, 4301 Sandy Porter Road, Charlotte
• Ardrey Kell High School, 10220 Ardrey Kell Road, Charlotte

SEE ALSO ‘Disaster Is At The Doorstep’: Shelters Open Throughout NC

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