Evacuations Underway in Advance of Florence
As major Hurricane Florence barrels toward the United States, residents along the Southeast coast need to be prepared for the worst (and hope for the best). Emergency plans should already be in place; know what to do in the event of a life-threatening situation. State and local governments have already begun to prepare. Over the weekend, the governors of Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina declared States of Emergency. On Monday afternoon, the governor of Maryland also declared a State of Emergency.
Mandatory evacuations were posted for several areas on Monday. The Outer Banks of North Carolina, in particular, are very susceptible to hurricanes. The threats of damaging wind, storm surge, and flooding prompted Dare County to issue evacuation orders for residents and tourists.
Here is a map regarding current evacuation orders for the #OuterBanks #OBX pic.twitter.com/zWTyR9Qa1D
— Dare County EM (@DareCountyEM) September 10, 2018
In nearby Hyde County, officials have ordered a mandatory evacuation for tourists visiting Okracoke Island.
Proclamation of Hyde County State of Emergency and Mandatory Evacuation of Visitors on Ocracoke Island. pic.twitter.com/p4mKhiM3SQ
— County of Hyde, NC (@HydeNC) September 10, 2018
By Tuesday, Governor Roy Cooper notified North Carolina residents of mandatory and voluntary evacuations throughout the coastal counties and inlet areas. For more information regarding these evacuation areas, visit the North Carolina Department of Public Safety website.
In neighboring South Carolina, Governor Henry McMaster ordered an evacuation of South Carolina’s hurricane zones in coastal counties on Monday afternoon. On Tuesday, the evacuation order for the southern most counties—Jasper, Beaufort, and Colleton (except Edisto Beach)—was lifted. More information can be found at the South Carolina Emergency Management Division website.
Make that Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. https://t.co/xW5WbnLwdk
— SCEMD (@SCEMD) September 10, 2018
On Monday evening, residents of Virginia were advised by Governor Ralph Northam that anyone living in Zone A would need to evacuate. Click here to view Virginia’s evacuation zone map.
Governor Northam orders the coastal evacuation of Zone A, the lowest-lying areas of Coastal Virginia and the Eastern Shore, effective 8 a.m. tomorrow (9/11).
Call 2-1-1 to learn your zone or visit https://t.co/sDaOdlw0qy.
Zone A residence should move to higher ground. pic.twitter.com/PupNQLvUNL
— VDEM (@VDEM) September 10, 2018
Evacuation orders and emergency notifications in other areas will be likely throughout the week. Follow WeatherNation on air and online (Twitter and Facebook) for the latest information regarding Hurricane Florence.