As you may have seen in the news, Hurricane Florence has made it to the United States. It made landfall on Friday near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina–a Category 1 hurricane which brought 90-mph winds and heavy rain. Many roads in the area are currently closed due to what’s been described as “catastrophic flooding” by the National Weather Service.
What We Know
- State officials have advised that out-of-state travelers avoid North Carolina entirely. If you are traveling near the area, please do not attempt to drive through a road that appears to be flooded.
- Rivers in the area are still rising due to rainfall, and aren’t expected to stop rising until Monday. Flooding can occur with very little warning, particularly as the rains continue.
- More than 486,000 homes in North Carolina were without power as of Monday morning. Massive outages were also reported in South Carolina, but that number is now reported as fewer than 20,000 homes.
- All residents within a mile of the Cape Fear River, including Fayetteville, are currently under orders to evacuate.
Staying Updated
- Follow the progress of the storm.
- Get information from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.
- Get information from the South Carolina Emergency Management Division.
How You Can Help
- Give blood, if you are able to do so. No matter where you are in the country, your blood donation can help with the medical needs of those affected by the storm.
- If you live in the area and have access to social media, mark yourself safe so friends and family don’t worry.
- Organize a collection of supplies for residents affected by the storm. Be sure you can get the supplies to their intended destination before you begin your collection. You can also connect with local food banks in affected areas and send money directly to them.
- Following natural disasters, money is often more helpful than supplies, since it’s easier to get into the hands of people who need it. Check out the #CapeFearlessChallenge on CrowdRise and donate if you can.
Our hearts go out to all those affected by Hurricane Florence. We encourage you to seek out ways to help those in need.