Known as a “a large and extremely dangerous hurricane,” according to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Florence is expected to reach the southeastern part of the U.S. later this week. It’s threatening significant damages and injuries, heading straight for North Carolina and the neighboring states.

It was just reported that it’s now classified as a Category 4 storm, reaching this status much earlier than predicted. The National Hurricane Center announced this information after receiving data from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft that measured that it was growing stronger by the hour, reaching windspeeds of up to 130 mph. But it’s expected to reach 150 mph with a span of 500 miles wide.

How it will Impact the States

Here’s what to expect from Hurricane Florence and some preparation tips to keep you and your family safe.

As far as Florence’s impact on the locals, it should be expected to have a strong storm surge, flooding, significant rainfall, and strong winds. It has been said that its track is likely to change, but for now, it is predicted that the shores of North and South Carolina will get the brunt of the damage.

As soon as Florence reaches land, forecasters expect that it will stall and remain over North Carolina for at least 24 hours. According to NHC director Ken Graham, threats of dangerous flooding will be heightened. Even for areas away from the coast, including Charlotte, NC for example, can still see between 10 – 15 inches of rain throughout the next week.

It was reported by the hurricane center that as of 12:00 on Monday, September 10^th, Florence is moving at 13 mph, and is about 575 miles southeast of Bermuda.

When to Expect Florence

As far as when it will hit the east coast, Florence will first pass by the Bahamas and Bermuda on Tuesday and Wednesday, arriving to the Carolinas either by Wednesday night or Thursday morning. Both states have declared states of emergencies as they urged all residents to prepare.

Hurricane Preparation Tips

If you are a resident of the Carolinas, here are some hurricane preparation steps you can take to prepare to limit the damage and keep your family safe.

• Stock up on emergency items like food, water, blankets, pillows, toiletries, clothing, specialty items for seniors and babies, etc.
• Move large furniture away from the doors and windows
• Unplug everything in the home and be ready to shut off the main power if needed
• Review your insurance policy to see if it covers damages from hurricanes
• Keep the numbers of local flood cleanup companies on hand

The U.S. Navy base is also taking steps along with the U.S. Fleet Forces Command to clear out almost 30 ships, pushing them out to sea to avoid the storm. For those that cannot leave port, they will also be taking preparation steps such as adding storm and mooring lines, dropping anchors, and disconnecting shore power cables.

About Hurricane Florence

Hurricane Florence has a radius of 30 miles and because of its size, it will cause a number of structural damages due to its strong windspeeds.

The National Hurricane Center stated the following:

“Life-threatening freshwater flooding is likely from a prolonged and exceptionally heavy rainfall event, which may extend inland over the Carolinas and Mid Atlantic for hundreds of miles as Florence is expected to slow down as it approaches the coast and moves inland.”

While Hurricane Florence will wreak havoc on the Carolina locals, it is only 1 of 3 hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean, the other 2 being Helene and Isaac. Isaac also poses a risk with windspeeds of up to 75 mph, expected to pick up before weakening before it hits the Lesser Antilles on Thursday and Friday.

Hurricane Olivia and Hawaii

Meanwhile on the other side of the country, dangerous storms threaten Hawaii as the state declared a tropical storm warning or watch on Monday morning. Hurricane Olivia is threatening to hit with windspeeds up to 85 mph.

While residents should still be a aware of the chance for dangerous flooding and wind, Hurricane Olivia may weaken into a tropical storm within the next 48 hours, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu.

What to Do After Hurricane Damage

There is no doubt that hurricanes are one of nature’s worst disasters. Wreaking havoc on homes and buildings, ripping winds and severe flooding can leave residents and businesses without shelter for weeks and even months.

When this happens, taking the proper steps right away will put you on the fastest track towards recovery. For the locals of Charlotte, NC, you can count on the professionals of RestorationMaster to provide the flood cleanup services you need to get back on track.

As soon as we receive your call, we will respond right away with all equipment needed to mitigate the water, dry out the structure, prevent mold growth, and work with your insurance company to ensure your peace of mind. We will also be there to answer any questions you may have along the way.

For more information visit https://restorationmasterfinder.com/houston-tx/restoration-services-4/ 

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.