North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue says a hurricane warning is now in affect for the entire North Carolina coast. Thousands of tourists have been evacuated and even more are expected to leave Friday.
North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue:
“We can always rebuild, but we cannot replace lost lives.”
By noon Friday 180,000 National Guard troops will be deployed in eastern North Carolina.
North Carolina Highway Patrol will have 48 additional troopers deployed along the coast for storm response and evacuation. Another 96 state troopers will be on standby.
Shelters are open; people are evacuating.
The American Red Cross is already in North Carolina.
Hurricane Watches and Warnings at 7:00 p.m. EDT Thursday
Philadelphia Hurricane Watch
Atlantic City Hurricane Watch
Wakefield, Virginia Hurricane Watch
Columbia, North Carolina Hurricane Warning
Nags Head, North Carolina Hurricane Warning
Newport, North Carolina Hurricane Warning
Morehead City, North Carolina Hurricane Warning
Greenville North Carolina Hurricane Warning
Wilmington, North Carolina Hurricane Warning
Charleston, South Carolina Tropical Storm Warning, Hurricane Warning (off coast)
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Tropical Storm Warning
In general for the East Coast …
5-10 feet surge of water expected at the coast
6′ to 10″ inches of rain — 15′
National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Ed Rappaport says as Hurrican Irene barrels toward the Eastern Seaboard conditions in North Carolina will start to deteriorate Friday with the worst impact there expected Saturday.
Links for Hurricane Irene