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Hurricane Florence Rips the N.C. Banks

Hurricane Florence is here. It is brutal, and it's just getting started.

The outer bands of Hurricane Florence, a large and dangerous Category 2 storm, landed on the North Carolina coast Thursday morning. Winds were already gusting to 70 mph and sea water was surging ashore along the Outer Banks, washing over roads. It marks the beginning of a prolonged assault from wind and water, which — by the time it’s over — is likely to bring devastating damage and flooding to millions of people in the Southeast.

The Weather Channel has incredible video of the waves already crashing into homes.

Last night I read the waves could be taller than an 8 story building.

Here's a live video from the shores of Myrtle Beach, S.C. [More...]

The Governor of South Carolina said every South Carolinian's life is too precious to lose. "“But we’re not going to gamble with the lives of the people of South Carolina. Not a one.” He's a hypocrite.

The S.C. Department of Corrections is refusing to move inmates in harm's way.

...a National Lawyers Guild report drawing on the experiences of nearly 100 inmates in multiple prisons in Texas following Hurricane Harvey in 2017 found many were left to suffer in horrifying conditions — trapped in cells with knee-deep water contaminated with feces and urine, and with no access to food, water, or medicine.

McDougall Correctional Facility is in the red zone and has 651 inmates who won't be apparently won't be moved come hell or high water.

By contrast, North Carolina has already begun moving inmates.

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    Re: 83' Waves (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by Boo Radly on Thu Sep 13, 2018 at 08:07:26 PM EST
    Just in case you don't read the entire article at Jeralyn's link, those 83' waves are in open water. Barrier islands have shelves.  Water depth dictates height of waves. OBX is a beach paradise. Concerned about all ppl and the myriad wild critters.

    It doesn't look too bad in Myrtle Beach... (none / 0) (#1)
    by desertswine on Thu Sep 13, 2018 at 02:01:03 PM EST
    just yet, people are strolling about, walking their dogs, watching the surf.  And what appear to be large pterodactyls are soaring in the breeze.

    I expect that will get much worse in a few hours.

    Feel sad (none / 0) (#2)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Sep 13, 2018 at 02:54:21 PM EST
    We started our vacation this year on Hatteras. We had a great time. Not sure what is going to be left.

    Parent
    You can count on one thing. (4.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Sep 13, 2018 at 07:23:25 PM EST
    Whatever carnage is wreaked upon the Hatteras community by Florence, people will flock back there to rebuild, much as they did after Hugo and Sandy.

    North Carolina's Outer Banks are called barrier islands for a good reason. They're going to receive the brunt of any major storm in the vicinity. Personally, I think it's irresponsible for county and state authorities to continue to allow large numbers of people to move and live there.

    There's only one effective route of escape for Hatteras residents in times like these, and if that ever fails for whatever reason in the face of a rapidly approaching hurricane like Iniki out here in 1992, instead of the ponderous Florence, the result could be tragic. We really ought to remember what happened in 1900 in Galveston, TX, where an estimated 20% of that city's population were killed by a Category 4-level hurricane. It remains the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history.

    Even though the local authorities in east Texas had received ample warnings nearly six days prior to the monster storm's arrival, Galveston residents were effectively isolated from the mainland and couldn't get away in time. Most of the estimated 8,000 people who died there were killed by the resultant 15 ft.-high storm surge that washed completely over Galveston island, where the highest elevation is only 8 feet above sea level. The city itself was completely destroyed.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    The outer (none / 0) (#5)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Sep 13, 2018 at 07:49:05 PM EST
    banks are dangerous even in normal weather. They have a very strong riptide.

    Parent
    No (none / 0) (#6)
    by FlJoe on Thu Sep 13, 2018 at 08:03:19 PM EST
    way they had six days of warning, the meteorologists of the time only knew there was a storm  of unknown  strength some somewhere in the gulf for several days until it brushed Louisiana a couple of days before landfall and even then no one knew the exact path.


    Parent
    state authorities to continue to allow (none / 0) (#8)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Fri Sep 14, 2018 at 08:32:45 AM EST
    Don't forget bargain priced federal flood insurance that allows repeated rebuilding at taxpayer expense in locations certain to be wiped out again.

    Parent
    The testimony from those in (none / 0) (#4)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Sep 13, 2018 at 07:45:57 PM EST
    Puerto Rico who lost a loved one due to Maria while Florence is landing :(

    Nature's up to her old tricks (none / 0) (#9)
    by jondee on Sun Sep 16, 2018 at 04:56:50 PM EST
    dissing Libertarianism again.