For all the concern about how Florence would greet the Carolina coast, we’re getting an idea of why. While she arrived as a downgraded Category One storm, the expected storm surge has not disappointed – proving to be as bad as forecasters expected. And all bets are off for the next 72 hours as the stalled storm stops and drenches everyone she can.
With Hurricane Florence bearing down on the Carolinas, the Defense Department says it’s ready to help. During a Pentagon briefing, Assistant Defense Secretary Kenneth Rapuano [[rah-PWAN-oh]] said the military is poised to jump in and assist local, state and federal disaster relief efforts. That includes search-and-rescue operations.
Air Force General Terrence O'Shaughnessy cited close coordination between the Pentagon and FEMA. General O'Shaughnessy noted that about 7-thousand active duty and National Guard personnel are ready for hurricane duty. He said the number may grow, if necessary.
Dozens Of People Rescued From Florence Storm Surge In NC Town - Several people didn’t heed evacuation orders in New Bern, North Carolina.
Hurricane Florence rescue efforts are in the North Carolina coastal town. Officials in New Bern say over 150 people have been rescued from surging floodwaters so far. A tweet from city officials urged flood victims to move up to the second floor or to the attic, and assured, "we are coming to get you."
A county spokeswoman says multiple residents have been rescued, and emergency crews are doing their best to reach areas that are just too dangerous because of extreme flooding, storm surges and high winds up to 50-miles-per-hour.
FEMA teams have been determining which cases were most severe and pulling those residents out first. Over 90 calls poured into 911 after storm surge waters overtook the town. The National Hurricane Center is reporting over ten-feet of floodwater in New Bern. Source: Fox News
- ONE MORE THING! Verizon is offering free cellphone service to customers hit by Hurricane Florence. The company says its offering free talk, texting and data through Monday for customers in the direct path of the storm. The head of Verizon's Southeast market says the free service will give customers in the area one less thing to worry about so they can focus on their safety and security. Hurricane Florence will impact Verizon customers in the Carolinas, Virginia and Georgia. That’s a far cry from the company’s behavior during the recent California wildfires, where they slowed down service, which hampered firefighters’ communication efforts.