President Donald Trump late Monday approved an emergency declaration for North Carolina, as “life-threatening” Hurricane Florence barrels toward the Carolinas — and it is expected to strengthen to a Category 5 storm.
The president’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA to coordinate disaster relief efforts for “the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population,” a White House statement said, according to South Carolina’s The State.
State and local officials in the Carolinas and Virginia have ordered about 1.5 million people to evacuate, The Washington Post reported.
Florence is expected to make landfall on Thursday and could become one of the most catastrophic hurricanes to hit the Eastern seaboard in decades.
“Life-threatening freshwater flooding is likely from a prolonged and exceptionally heavy rainfall event,” the National Weather Service said in an advisory.
I was just thinking about 9/11/01 amidst the hurricane flo prep. And all the first responders for both events. And gave a prayer of gratitude.
— Erin Schwie Langston (@eslangston) September 11, 2018
The hurricane is also forecast to hit a stretch of coastline that’s vulnerable to rising sea levels due to climate change, according to the Associated Press.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam issued an evacuation order that applies to about 245,000 people.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said his state was “in the bullseye” of the storm and urged people to “get ready now.”
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan also declared a state of emergency, as officials “are preparing for any possible outcome, including the potential of historic, catastrophic, and life-threatening flooding in Maryland.”
Related: Best Disaster Prep, No Matter Where You Are
Several meteorologists said Florence could do what Hurricane Harvey did last year over Texas, dumping days of rain, although not likely as bad.
“I think this is very Harvey-esque,” said Brian McNoldy, University of Miami hurricane expert.
Normally, a tropical cyclone hitting land keeps on going inland, gradually dissipating and raining itself out. But on rare occasions, the steering patterns can line up such that a storm slips into a dead zone between troughs and ridges.”
Airlines have waived fees for passengers scheduled to fly to airports in the expected path of hurricane Flo. Check with your airline!#TravelTuesday https://t.co/7cHFsGETDI
— Brooke Linbourne (@Brookelin067) September 11, 2018
See more on this developing storm in the video below.
This Fox News piece is used by permission; the Associated Press contributed.
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