Hurricane Florence: Landfall Threatens Epic Rain; 80K Lose Power

MYRTLE BEACH, SC — Though downgraded to a Category 2 storm Thursday, Hurricane Florence is expected to bring dangerous storm surges when it smashes ashore early Friday near the border separating the Carolinas and meanders inland. The drenching from the massive storm could dump as much as three feet of rain, swamping all but a thin sliver of the coast.

Florence’s winds weakened as the storm moved toward the coast, dropping from a peak of 140 mph as a terrifying Category 4 storm earlier in the week to 100 mph Thursday — still enough to flood barrier island towns with sea water and bend trees. The storm isn't expected to strengthen overnight, but wind isn't the problem with Florence.

A storm surge 10 feet above normal was reported near Morehead City, North Carolina, Thursday night, and similar life threatening swells were expected to continue into Friday along the coast, the National Hurricane Center said in an 11 p.m. update.

Rain from the storm could last through the weekend and, given its size and sluggish track, could cause the same epic flooding that swamped Houston during Hurricane Harvey just over a year ago, and wash over industrial waste sites and hog manure lagoons.

“It truly is really about the whole size of this storm,” National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham said. “The larger and the slower the storm is, the greater the threat and the impact — and we have that.”

More than 156,000 customers in North Carolina are without power.

Tens of thousands of people were already without power as the storm approached, and more than 12,000 were in shelters. Another 400 people were in shelters in Virginia, where forecasts were less dire.

On Thursday, heavy rain bands with tropical storm-force winds pounded the Outer Banks and other coastal areas as the Category 2 storm churned just 110 miles south of Wilmington.

Government officials issued desperate last-ditch pleas to coastal residents to leave town with forecasters projecting Florence would pack a "Mike Tyson punch." The storm has 105 mph winds and is expected to linger over the region, dumping as much as 40 inches of rain in some areas. Government officials and Duke Energy estimated millions of residents and businesses would be in the dark for weeks, not days.

Forecasters predict Florence will turn south just before making landfall sometime Friday. Homes and businesses have been boarded up and sandbags have been placed outside in anticipation of the powerful storm.

The National Hurricane Center warned of life-threatening storm surge, rainfall and flash flooding. The National Weather Service warned Florence could be historic in its devastation.

"This will likely be the storm of a lifetime for portions of the Carolina coast, and that's saying a lot given the impacts we've seen from Hurricanes Diana, Hugo, Fran, Bonnie, Floyd, and Matthew," the NWS wrote in a forecast discussion. "I can't emphasize enough the potential for unbelievable damage from wind, storm surge, and inland flooding with this storm."

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, warned this is no ordinary storm.

"This is not going to be a glancing blow. ... This is going to be a Mike Tyson punch to the Carolina coast" from Thursday into the weekend, FEMA associate administrator Jeff Byard said.

Federal state and local government officials have pleaded with residents not to press their luck.

“We know a lot of our coastal residents have ridden out storms before,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said Wednesday evening at a press conference. “This should not be one of those storms. Don’t risk your life riding out a monster.”

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster estimated Thursday that 420,000 people had evacuated.

The North Carolina coastline could see 20 to 30 inches, with isolated parts seeing as high as 40 inches. South Carolina, as well as western and northern parts of North Carolina could see 5-10 inches, with isolated parts seeing 20 inches of rainfall. "Catastrophic flash flooding" and significant river flooding are possible, the hurricane center warned.

"The waves and the wind this storm may bring is nothing like you've ever seen. Even if you've ridden out storms before, this one is different. Don't bet your life on riding out a monster," Cooper said.

Alerts

Hurricane and storm surge warnings are in effect for coastal South Carolina all the way north to the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Storm surge refers to a life-threatening inundation of water moving inland from the coast. People in these areas should take all necessary precautions to protect themselves and their pets and belongings from rising water.

Storm surge could reach as high as 13 feet in some areas, including Cape Fear, the hurricane center warned. Myrtle Beach and the Ocracoke Inlet could see 6-9 feet.

"The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves," the hurricane center wrote in its latest advisory.

Inland areas of North Carolina, including Charlotte, could see up to 6 inches of rain, with isolated areas receiving up to 12, according to the NHC. The projected wind speeds in the Charlotte-area could now reach 50-70 mph and nearly hurricane-force strength.

President Donald Trump declared states of emergency for North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, paving the way for federal assistance. The federal government is “absolutely, totally prepared” for Florence, he said.

All three states have ordered mass evacuations along the coast and several major airlines have issued travel advisories for fliers traveling from, to and through numerous airports in the Southeast.

Pressed For Time

Water, food and now fuel shortages have been reported in numerous areas of the Carolinas, including Raleigh, the state's capital. Michelle Stober told The Associated Press she gathered her valuables this week at her Wrightsville Beach home to drive inland to her primary home in Cary. But finding gas proved difficult.

“This morning I drove around for an hour looking for gas in Cary. Everyone was sold out,” she said.

Photos and videos posted on social media showed Disney World-length lines at numerous stores including Costco, Walmart and Harris Teeter. Shopping carts filled with bottled water weaved through aisles and even out the door.

Universities and high schools have had to postpone and cancel sporting events across the region, including a major college football game between North Carolina State University and West Virginia University.

Staying Put

In every hurricane there are always residents who ignore evacuation orders and choose to ride out the storm. It's viewed as a badge of honor. Some even print out T-shirts boasting of the storms they've survived.

Even as government officials issue grave warnings, Florence is no exception. Skippy Winner, 84, who lives near Carolina Beach on the coast of North Carolina, told The New York Times he has survived every storm since Hazel in 1954. This one will be no different. He will hunker down.

“I’m gonna be just fine, so let ’er blow,” a shirtless Winner told The Times on Wednesday. He said he learned how to survive hurricanes from his grandfather and father. He has medication, plenty of food, water, batteries, candles and a generator. His house, which his daughter referred to as "Fort Knox," is made of cinder block and cement. The front door is 2 inches thick and insulated with horse hair.

“If you leave, you’re likely to lose everything,” Winner told The Times. “I’d worry to death that I might have been able to save something.”

Sudden Shift

Florence is expected to spare much of Virginia, meaning much of the state won't be getting the disastrous amount of rain it was expecting, but parts of Georgia could now see major rainfall. If the storm does stall along the Carolina coast, then moves into South Carolina, "it could become a big rain maker for parts of Georgia," said WSB-TV Meteorologist Karen Minton.

Furthermore, the hurricane is still expected to pound the Hampton Roads area of Virginia with strong winds and storm surge, and some areas at the very southern edge of the state could see huge amounts of rainfall.

There is some possibility the storm reverses course and heads back to Virginia, too. The NHC said Wednesday morning the entire Mid-Atlantic region could see 3-6 inches of rain, with as much as a foot possible in areas. Ground saturation from recent rain could result in major flooding.

Much of Maryland could see 2-4 inches of rainfall.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Image: Waves slam the Oceana Pier & Pier House Restaurant in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, as Hurricane Florence approaches the area. (Travis Long/The News & Observer via AP)