Hurricane Florence In Arlington: Flooding, Outages Possible

ARLINGTON, VA -- Hurricane Florence may miss us entirely, but we're not out of the woods yet. Arlington County authorities are preparing for the worst as Hurricane Florence barrels toward the East Coast. The storm is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane, and this wide-reaching storm could have impacts on our region.

The storm likely will hit the Carolinas or Southeastern Virginia late Thursday night and into early Friday morning. 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.

"As the Hurricane Florence gets closer, there is an increasing risk of direct impacts to our region," Arlington County's website states. "The major concerns with this storm are rainfall amounts and wind speeds. Excessive rain may cause flooding and as the ground becomes more saturated, it will be easier for winds to knock over trees and take down power lines.

"Be prepared for power outages. Do not report power outages to 9-1-1, unless there is a life-threatening emergency. To report trees or wires down or flooded roadways, you can contact the non-emergency number at 703-558-2222. Remember: do not travel through flooded roadways. Turn around, don’t drown."

SEE ALSO: Hurricane Update: Florence Shifts Toward PG County

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Here's what Arlington County's website says about being prepared:

• Be Informed: Stay aware of things going on by having multiple ways to get information and keep an eye on the forecast.
  • Sign up for emergency notifications, including weather and traffic alerts, at ArlingtonAlert.com
  • Follow Ready Arlington on Facebook and Twitter
• Plan Ahead: Make an emergency plan, and discuss it with each family member.
  • Plan for possible evacuation.
    • Fill your gas tank in your car.
    • Have cash on hand. During power outages, ATMs and credit card machine will not work.
    • Use text and social media when able to get in touch with family members and plan for what to do if there is no phone service or internet.
    • Have names and phone numbers of family members, utilities, doctors/pharmacists, etc written down.
  • Prepare your home:
    • Clear gutters and downspouts of debris.
    • Trim trees and shrubbery.
    • Secure or bring inside any outdoor furniture or loose items.
    • If you have a generator remember to only run it outdoors.
    • Place a thermometer in your fridge and freezer in case of power outages. Any food that has reached 40 degrees or higher should be thrown out. If doors are kept closed, food in the fridge will be kept cold for about 4 hours, and the freezer for about 48 hours.
    • Turn off or disconnect appliances. If the power goes out, a momentary power surge can cause damage.
    • Move items in your basement off the floor in case of flooding.
    • Review your insurance policy.
• Build a Kit: Get supplies together that you may need for your family for at least 3 days. Make sure to include the needs of pets.
  • Have food that is nonperishable that does not require power to make.
  • Ensure you have flashlights and check batteries. Do not use candles as they can be a fire hazard.
  • Keep cell phones charged. Consider an external charger.
  • Refill medication/first aid kits.

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)