Hurricane ​Isaias: State Of Emergency Declared In North Carolina

The storm moving toward the United States' eastern coast has been upgraded to a hurricane and is expected to make landfall in Florida on Friday afternoon.

The category one storm is expected to make its way up the coast to North Carolina early next week, potentially causing some flash floods, according to the National Weather Service.

On Friday, Gov. Roy Cooper announced he had issued a state of emergency, saying, “a hurricane during a pandemic is double trouble, but the state has been carefully preparing for this scenario.”

The weather service reports the hurricane is expected to be downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it reaches North Carolina, but strong winds and flash flooding remain risk factors early next week.

Most models predict Isaias it will move up the coastline and last the eastern Carolinas, dropping rain and creating a risk of flash flooding. Residents are urged to be cautious of a strong rip current through the weekend and next week.

Category one storms have winds between 74 and 95 miles per hour and are known to cause some damage. Residents are urged to monitor the situation and react accordingly to warnings from officials.

North Carolina provides an online hurricane guide to help residents prepare for extreme weather. The guide is available online.

Evacuations

Cooper and other state officials on Friday explained the pandemic has added additional difficulties to hurricane prep as category one Hurricane Isaias approaches North Carolina.

Officials asked that, should evacuation orders be issued, residents try to stay with friends and family members or in hotels rather than going to shelters.

If needed, places of shelter will be available to evacuating residents. Evacuees could also be assigned rooms in dormitories, hotels or motels, The News & Observer reported.

According to the report, state officials will announce shelters' locations if needed.

On Friday, the Ocracoke Control Group issued a mandatory evacuation order for Ocracoke Island amid warnings of heavy rain and a strong storm surge. The order takes effect for residents, business owners and essential personnel at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

In a release, the Ocracoke Control Group announced people will not be allowed on inbound ferries to the island without a re-entry pass or other documentation.

Island residents are urged to begin evacuation as soon as possible as ferries have reduced capacity due to shoaling. Officials encourage the use of the Ocracoke-Hatteras ferry route.

A map of the state's evacuation zones can be found online.

Emergency Preparedness

Officials in North Carolina recommend that residents prepare a kit filled with emergency supplies in the event of an evacuation order.

The kit should contain food and water, a wireless radio, a first aid kit, a flashlight, any necessary medication and personal care items. Visit the North Carolina 211 for more hurricane preparation tips.

Real-time emergency alerts are available through the ReadyNC app and FEMA. To sign up for FEMA preparedness tips, text PREPARE to 43362. To view a list of all alert topics available through FEMA text LIST to 43362.

Read more:

• Hurricane Isaias Could Cause Flooding In North Carolina
• Hurricane Warning Issued For Parts of FL As Isaias Nears
• Hurricane Isaias Puts Outer Banks, Hampton Roads On Alert In Virginia