Dorian ravaged North Carolina | Lower than in …

Hurricane Dorian landed Friday in North Carolina (USA), downgraded to category 1, but still causes heavy rains that have blocked about 800 people on an island in that state and over 200,000 people without electricity when moving to Canada. on the East coast. In the Carolinas, the evacuation of more than 900,000 people was ordered.

Weakened after crossing the Bahamas but still with dangerous winds of 150 km / h, Dorian caused floods and floods after arriving early Friday in the Cape Hatteras region, at the southern end of a Long Island Barrier Called Outer Banks "We are very worried because hundreds of people are stranded on the island of Ocracoke," said North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, at the time. ;a press conference. "The storm is very intense over there, I do not think rescue teams can come on the spot, but they are ready to act as soon as they can." Cooper estimated that about 800 people may have been trapped on this island of nearly 25 square kilometers and recommended people to climb to the highest point of their homes to avoid being dragged into possible floods .

In just two hours, the waves of the Atlantic Ocean have exceeded two meters in height and flooded the roads and homes of the island. "This is an absolute disaster," said Peter Vankevich, director of the region's leading newspaper, the Ocracoke Observer. "It's impossible to exaggerate the impact of the storm here, and I've heard that at Hatteras, things are even worse," Vankevich added. The Washington Post.

In North Carolina, more than 200,000 people were deprived of electricity due to falling trees and utility poles and another 5,000 were evacuated to shelters after leaving their homes; 80 roads and highways are still flooded, according to state authorities.

Friday noon, the storm was heading for Chesapeake Bay, an estuary that divides the states of Virginia and Maryland.

"Hazardous winds and storm surges on the coast of North Carolina, southeastern Virginia, and southern Chesapeake Bay are expected to continue in the next few hours," said the National Hurricane Center (CNH) in its latest newsletter. . And he insisted that "the storm should continue with dangerous and life-threatening winds on part of the coast of North Carolina, part of southeastern Virginia and southern Bay of Chesapeake. " Also report any flooding of water levels before the arrival of high winds. He also notes that the swell will continue throughout east of Carolina and southeast Virginia. He insists that this phenomenon is "dangerous for life".

Dorian, who travels at a speed of 34 kilometers per hour, must rub between Friday night and Saturday morning in southeastern New England, Mbadachusetts. It is also estimated that it will land in Nova Scotia and the other Maritime Provinces of Canada late Saturday, although the CNH felt that it could already be a result of a post-hurricane. tropical.

Despite the floods, authorities in North Carolina have been relieved by the absence, for the moment, of deaths and comparisons with hurricane Florence, which has killed more than 30 people between the state, South Carolina and Virginia Dorian's impact on the United States was weaker than its catastrophic consequences in the Bahamas, where authorities are still looking for survivors and have already counted at least 30 people. The overall extent of the damage is still unknown as the island is still under water.

Funeral and refrigeration personnel have been sent to the area to store the bodies to help the authorities, health minister Duane Sands told local media. On the number of deaths, he said: "Let me say that I think the number will be shocking." The island of Greater Abaco shows scenes of catastrophic damage, hundreds of homes destroyed on the ground, cars overturned, entire fields of debris and widespread flooding. Thousands of people were left homeless and the United Nations said 70,000 needed immediate help.

The extent of the damage in the northern Bahamas began to be known on Thursday, as rescue teams managed to tour the area to rescue survivors and bring help to the victims.

US and British helicopters conducted medical evacuations, air badessments to coordinate relief operations, and reconnaissance flights to investigate the damage. The United States coastguard said it saved 201 people in the Bahamas until Thursday. The United Nations World Food Program has announced that it has eight tons of dishes prepared to reach the Bahamas.