Hurricane Florence Sparks US Exodus
Evacuations have been ordered as the US East Coast braces for Hurricane Florence - in what may be the strongest storm to hit the region in decades.
South Carolina’s governor ordered the evacuation of its entire coastline while North Carolina and Virginia have declared states of emergency.
Officials say Florence is now a category four storm with 130mph (195km/h) winds, and gaining strength. It is expected to strike the Carolinas by tomorrow.
- which was 1200 miles (2000km) southeast of Cape Fear, North Carolina, on Monday morning - started the day as a category two storm.
The weather system could reach category five as its draws strength from the warm Atlantic waters, say forecasters.
It would be the first category four storm to hit the region since Hugo ravaged North Carolina in 1989, wreaking US$7bn (FJ$14.92bn) in damage and claiming 49 lives. The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) says Florence has the makings of an “extremely dangerous” meteorological event.
It may bring catastrophic levels of rain and flooding to coastal and inland regions.
National Weather Service meteorologist Dan Miller sai: “Somebody is going to suffer devastating damage if this storm continues as it is currently forecast.” US President Donald Trump has cancelled plans for a rally on Friday in Mississippi because of the hurricane.
South Carolina’s governor had ordered the evacuation of its entire coastline yesterday in a move affecting about a million residents.