VA State Of Emergency Before Florence Becomes 'Major Hurricane'

WASHINGTON, DC — Virginia is under a state of emergency as residents from Florida to North Carolina are being warned that they could be in the crosshairs as what is currently Tropical Storm Florence moves into warmer waters and strengthens to a Category 3 or higher storm. The storm seems more likely to affect a larger swath of the Eastern seaboard, experts at the National Hurricane Center said Saturday. It's still way too early to know how close the storm will come to Virginia and what the impact will be on the state and the DC region, but forecasters say the East Coast could start to experience Florence's approach this weekend.

"The risk for impacts along the East Coast has increased," according to the National Weather Service, which issued a flood watch from 2 a.m. Sunday to 10 a.m. Monday for much of northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland.

The National Hurricane Center said Saturday latest predictions show the Southeast U.S. is at risk of being hit by Florence. North and South Carolina are now in the center's "cone of uncertainty," which tries to forecast which areas might be hit, and both states are under a state of emergency. Governor Ralph Northam issued a similar declaration Saturday to mobilize resources ahead of the storm, help mitigate any damage and streamline the process used to assist other states vulnerable to Florence.

“While the impacts of Tropical Storm Florence to Virginia are still uncertain, forecasts increasingly expect the storm to strengthen into a major hurricane that could seriously affect the East Coast and Virginians,” Northam said in a news release. “I encourage Virginians to monitor forecasts and make their own preparations now.”

A state of emergency allows the Virginia National Guard to mobilize and pre-position people and equipment for best storm response and recovery efforts. While the track of Tropical Storm Florence is still uncertain, it appears increasingly likely that Virginia may see significant impacts from this storm next week, Northam's office said. Affects include possible flooding, high winds, and potential storm surge.

See safety and preparedness tips below that you should do before the storm gets closer to the US coast.

Forecast models "paint an increasingly grim picture, converging on a track that would have what is currently Tropical Storm Florence making a direct hit as a powerful hurricane somewhere along the Southeast coast," The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang said Saturday.

"Florence is forecast to be a dangerous major hurricane near the southeast U.S. coast by late next week, and the risk of direct impacts continues to increase," the center posted on its website. "However, given the uncertainty in track and intensity forecasts at those time ranges, it's too soon to determine the exact timing, location, and magnitude of those impacts."

The Hurricane Center predicts that Florence will reach Category 4 strength on Tuesday and remain there until Thursday, when it could make landfall.

"The message remains the same: If you have interests along the coast from Georgia up through the Northeast, you need to monitor this storm very closely," WSB meteorologist Brian Monahan in Atlanta said.

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Even if the storm fails to make landfall, if it comes close enough to shore it could flood our area with heavy rain and pound the coastal zones. Strong winds could also cause problems. Should it move out to sea and stay well off the coast, the worst that would happen is strong waves and rip currents on the beaches.

Interestingly, landfall by such a storm is exceedingly rare. The Capital Weather Gang notes that 67 named storms have passed within 200 nautical miles of the present location of Florence since 1851, but not a single one of them ever made landfall on the United States.

SEE ALSO: Hurricane Season 2018: Fewer Storms Forecast

In advance of the storm, assemble your emergency kit including food, water, medications, pet supplies and important documents that you will need to take with you if asked to evacuate in short order. To learn more about what to include in your emergency kit and how to prepare for hurricanes, visit www.VAemergency.gov/hurricanes.

Florence is the first storm above category 3 to form this season and has formed as the Atlantic hurricane season reaches its peak. Where the storm tracks will depend on several weather systems, high pressure in the Eastern United States and northern Atlantic Ocean, and a low-pressure trough making its way across the country, CNN says.

Tropical Storm Gordon hit Mississippi Tuesday, with the remnants expected to bring rain to the Northeast by next week.

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.

Be Informed

Here are basic commands to get started:

• 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 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.

• 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.
  • Keep your contacts updated and synced across all of your channels, including phone, email and social media. This will make it easy to reach out to the right people quickly to get information and supply updates. Consider creating a group listserv of your top contacts.
  • Create a group chat via a texting app or a thread for family/friends/coworkers to communicate quickly during a disaster.

Sign up for Direct Deposit and electronic banking through your financial institution so you can access your payroll funds and make electronic payments wherever you are. Federal benefit recipients can sign up by calling (800) 333-1795 or at GoDirect.org.

Additional information can be found on the Virginia Department of Health website.

Residents readying for a storm can get tips and advice on the federal government's Ready.gov website. To keep up with potential storms during hurricane season, bookmark the National Hurricane Center's website.

For local weather and severe weather alerts, visit the National Weather Service online.

Includes reporting by Patch editors Paul Scicchitano and Adam Nichols.

Image: Hurricane Sandy in 2012. (Photo by NOAA via Getty Images)