Hurricane Florence Set To Hit US East Coast

Residents in North Carolina have been issued with a mandatory evacuation order as Hurricane Florence has been upgraded to a Category 4 storm.

According to USA Today, the National Hurricane Centre has said Florence is set to hit the US East Coast later this week, possibly as early as Wednesday.

In a statement the centre said: "Further strengthening is anticipated, and Florence is expected to be an extremely dangerous major hurricane through Thursday.

"On the forecast track, the center of Florence will move over the southwestern Atlantic Ocean between Bermuda and the Bahamas Tuesday and Wednesday and approach the coast of South Carolina or North Carolina on Thursday."

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said: "We here in North Carolina are bracing for a hard hit. We are taking Hurricane Florence seriously."

Adding that President Donald Trump needs to declare a federal disaster.

It's not just North Carolina that is 'taking Hurricane Florence seriously', either, in South Carolina and Virginia residents have also declared states of emergency following the updates on the storm.

With South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster saying: "Now is the time for your family also to prepare and stay tuned for more updates.

"Plan for the worst, pray for the best.

"Pretend, assume, presume that a major hurricane is going to hit right smack dab in the middle of South Carolina and is going to go way inshore."

While a statement from Ralph Northam, Virginia Governor, added that it could be the 'most significant hurricane event in decades' before warning of 'catastrophic inland flood, high winds and power outages'.

According to the Daily Mail, one person has drowned and two more were injured at Daytona Beach, Florida, after choppy waters caused by Florence led to dangerous surfing conditions.

Forecasters have predicted as much as 20inches of rain in parts of North Carolina, which could cause potentially fatal flooding.

Those living in the areas set to be hit, have reportedly been out stocking up on essentials, such as bottled water and extra groceries.

Authorities in coastal towns have told residents to pick up sandbags and in North Carolina they are already preparing bulldozers and chain saws in case they are needed in any future clean-up and rescue operations.

Topics: hurricane, US News, US

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19