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Florence is getting closer to the coast of North Carolina, where it is expected to touch land Friday afternoon, said the National Hurricane Center. After touching the ground, he could stay for days, unloading quantities of rain and catastrophic, life-threatening winds.
"This storm is … nothing like you've ever seen," said North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. "Even if you've already faced storms, this one is different – do not bet on your life by riding a monster."
More than 1 million people are subject to mandatory evacuation in the Carolinas and Virginia, and about 30 million people in the Southeast will be affected if the forecasts are valid, said CNN meteorologist Michael Guy.
The National Meteorological Service has issued a worrisome warning.
"It will probably be the storm of life for some parts of the Carolina coast, and that says a lot considering the impacts of hurricanes Diana, Hugo, Fran, Bonnie, Floyd and Matthew," the statement added. "I can not stress enough the potential for incredible damage caused by wind, storm surges and inland floods with this storm."
Latest developments
• changing focus: The effects of the hurricane will be felt hundreds of kilometers away, including Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Georgia.
• Always moving: Wednesday morning, the storm was about 1.25 km southeast of Cape Fear, North Carolina. There were sustained maximum winds of 140 mph (220 km / h).
• Rain and storms: Potentially lethal storm surges – up to 13 feet – are expected along the coast, and up to 35 inches of rain could fall early next week in parts of the Caroline and Central states. from the Atlantic coastline.
The inhabitants flee as the storm approaches
At the time of the closure of the hurricane, some residents wondered if it was necessary to get out of it. Allison Jones said she was not taking any chances.
Her home in Hillsborough, North Carolina, is threatened by floods and her family and loved ones will be storming in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The five adults, six children and a dog and a cat will leave their home on Wednesday.
Adults have packed irreplaceable items such as photo albums and heritage items as children stuffed their favorite toys, blankets and books into their bags.
"Honestly, it tears me to think that if at the end of it all, it's all we have left," Jones said. "I would have liked to have more time to sort and grab more sentimental items."
"My house is my wife and me"
Tim Terman's home in Southport, North Carolina, is about 20 feet above sea level. He intends to stay for the time being.
"Once you leave, it's hard to come back to check the damage," he said. "My house is all my wife and I have, materially speaking, a whole life."
Residents along the coast settled at home, lined up at gas stations and emptied supermarket shelves in anticipation of Florence's arrival.
On the island of Ocracoke, along Outer Banks, North Carolina, Kelley Shinn and her partner packed their Jeep with clothes and other things and took a ferry to the mainland . From there, they headed for his father's house in Ohio.
"It's surreal to think we have nothing left to do," she said. "We never left for a storm before, but a 20-foot storm surge could easily erase this island."
Mayor Joe Benson of Carolina Beach, a small town near Wilmington with a permanent population of about 6,300, said he thought half of the community's residents had stayed on the island.
States of emergency declared in several states
The Federal Emergency Management Agency warned that watches and storm surge warnings are active all over the North Carolina coast and parts of South Carolina. He urged residents to consider evacuation orders.
Authorities in several states have declared emergency states, including Virginia and Maryland, where coastal areas are still recovering from summer storms.
"We hope for the best and prepare for the worst," said Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, pointing out that Florence could cause catastrophic floods in her country.
Traffic redirected away from the coast
In South Carolina, traffic in all lanes of Interstate 26, from Charleston to Columbia, has been diverted from the coast, said South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster.
Traffic has also been moved off the coast on parts of US 501, McMaster said. Some schools in the inner counties will be used as shelters.
Families with pets were invited to ship them with veterinarians, kennels or other facilities in non-vulnerable areas.
"Pets are not allowed in the evacuation shelters of the Red Cross," said McMaster.
In Virginia, mandatory evacuations began Tuesday for about 245,000 residents in part of the east coast.
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