Rescuers Standing By As Hurricane Isaias Reaches NC Coastline

NORTH CAROLINA — Isaias returned to hurricane strength Monday night on its path along the East Coast from the Carolinas and ultimately to New England, the National Weather Service said. A tropical storm warning extended from Surf City, North Carolina, to Stonington, Maine, late Monday, while the Wilmington, North Carolina, area was under a hurricane warning.

As Hurricane Isaias regained hurricane status in the Atlantic, forecasters said major flood damage and life-threatening wind damage is anticipated in North Carolina by Tuesday morning.

At 11:10 p.m. Monday the National Hurricane Center said the storm made landfall near Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, with estimated maximum sustained winds at 85 miles per hour. Isaias is expected to produce dangerous winds and storm surge as the category 1 hurricane passes over the state.

Potential for wind from 74 to 110 mph — the equivalent of a category 1 or 2 hurricane — has increased. Shortly after 8 p.m. the storm was about 120 miles southwest of Wilmington.

Current models from the National Hurricane Center show Isaias will travel slightly northeast from its Monday position off the coast of Florida and make landfall near the southeast edge of North Carolina. From there, it is forecast to continue up the coastline toward Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.

Related: Hurricane Isaias Hits North Carolina Coast, Damage Reported

The hurricane center predicts hurricane-force winds will first arrive in North Carolina around 8 p.m. Monday.

Tropical storm conditions are expected to spread northward to portions of southern New England through Tuesday afternoon. Tropical storm conditions are possible across other portions of New England by early Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center said.

Heavy rainfall will result in flash and urban flooding, some of which may be significant in the eastern Carolinas and the mid-Atlantic, through midweek along and near the path of Isaias
across the East Coast of the United States.

Got photos of Hurricane Isaias' damage? You can send them to payton.potter@patch.com

As it stands, a hurricane warning has been issued for the area between South Santee River, South Carolina, and Surf City, North Carolina. In this area, winds of at least 74 mph can be expected.

The NWS also issued a tornado watch for several counties near the North and South Carolina state line on Monday afternoon. The watch is set to expire at 2 a.m.

The watch applies to Myrtle Beach and Pawleys Island in South Carolina and Clinton, Elizabethtown, Whiteville, Burgaw, Wilmington and Oak Island in North Carolina.

The National Weather Service said that watches and warnings are only estimations. Residents outside of these zones should remain aware of severe weather conditions as well.

"Regardless of whether Isaias is a strong tropical storm or a hurricane, the impacts should be similar, and Isaias will cause high winds in the Carolinas and potentially in areas under tropical storm watches farther north," the weather service said in a recent news briefing.

The weather service also warns that potentially deadly storm surges could occur along the East Coast from Florida to the Chesapeake Bay.

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In addition to storm surges of up to 5 feet, people along the Eastern Seaboard are urged to prepare for very heavy rainfall between 3 and 6 inches, or up to 8 inches in some isolated regions.

Rainfall is expected to lessen as the storm moves farther north. The NWS on Monday afternoon reported that eastern New York and western New England, from Connecticut to New Hampshire, will see between 2 and 4 inches of rain on average, with some areas receiving up to 6 inches.

Western and northern Maine will see between 1 and 3 inches of rain on average.

"Very heavy rainfall and life-threatening flash and urban flooding are threats along the storm's track through the Eastern Seaboard, along with minor to moderate river flooding," the NWS wrote.

According to the report, normally dry areas near the coast are most at risk of floodwaters that move inland from the shoreline. Surges of 3 to 5 feet are possible between South Santee River, South Carolina, and Cape Fear, North Carolina.

The NWS predicts storm surges of 2 to 4 feet are expected between Cape Fear, North Carolina, and the border to Virginia, including in Pamlico Sound, Albemarle Sound and the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers.

Farther north, from the North Carolina-Virginia border to Martha's Vineyard could see storm surges of 1 to 3 feet. This region includes Chesapeake Bay, the Tidal Potomac River, Delaware Bay, Long Island Sound, Block Island Sound, Narragansett Bay, Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound.

On Friday, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper also issued a state of emergency, unlocking access to extra resources should the storm cause damage in the Tar Heel State.

"With the right protection and sheltering, we can keep people safe from the storm while at the same time trying to avoid making the pandemic worse," Cooper said Friday on Twitter. "A hurricane during a pandemic is double trouble. But the state has been carefully preparing for this scenario."

In a news conference Monday, Cooper said emergency responders and rescuers from the U.S. Coast Guard the North Carolina National Guard — along with health care workers, swift-water rescue teams, helicopters and high-water vehicles — are standing by along the coast to help if needed.

On Sunday, President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency in North Carolina and directed federal assistance to aid state and local response efforts in the Tar Heel State.

The declaration activates the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief efforts in North Carolina.

Watches and Warnings

The hurricane center Monday announced additional watches and warnings for areas ranging from South Carolina to Maine. Residents in these areas could experience heavy rain, strong storm surges and high wind.

The NWS also reports occasional tornadoes are possible along the storm's path from eastern Virginia into southern New England.

• Storm Surge Warning

  • Edisto Beach, South Carolina, to Cape Fear, North Carolina

  • Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds, including the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers

  • North Carolina's Oregon Inlet to the Virginia Border

• Storm Surge Watch

  • From Cape Fear to the Oregon Inlet in North Carolina

• Hurricane Warning

  • South Santee River, South Carolina, to Surf City, North Carolina

• Tropical Storm Warning

  • Altamaha Sound, Georgia, to South Santee River, South Carolina

  • Surf City, North Carolina, to Stonington, Maine

  • Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds

  • Chesapeake Bay

  • Tidal Potomac River

  • Delaware Bay

  • Long Island and Long Island Sound

  • Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and Block Island

• Tropical Storm Watch

  • From the mouth of the Merrimack River to Eastport, Maine

Evacuations

• Franklin Township, voluntary — A voluntary evacuation order has been issued for residents and visitors in Franklin Township, including south of Highway 411 from Harrells to Clear Run and south of Highway 41. The order takes effect at 4 p.m. Monday

• Oak Island, voluntary — An evacuation order for nonresidents of Oak Island takes effect at 6 p.m. Sunday

• Caswell Beach, voluntary — A voluntary evacuation order for nonresidents will take effect at 8 a.m. on Monday.

• Keep up with real time evacuation orders through the ReadyNC website.

Sheltering

Cooper on Monday explained the pandemic has added additional difficulties to hurricane prep as category one Hurricane Isaias approaches North Carolina.

"Listen to local officials and follow evacuation orders when they're issued," Cooper said. "If you are told to evacuate, the most important thing is to get out of the danger zone. First, plan to stay with friends or family. If that doesn’t work, a hotel is the next option if you can afford it."

Officials asked that, should evacuation orders be issued, residents try to stay with friends and family members or in hotels rather than going to shelters.

Cooper said shelters will be available if needed, but shelter workers will screen people for symptoms of the new coronavirus before they are permitted to enter.

"If someone has COVID-19 or shows symptoms, they will be directed to a sheltering option for isolation or medical attention," the governor said. "Shelters will have PPE and will honor social distancing"

North Carolina's Department of Public Safety reminds anyone who goes to a shelter to practice social distancing and good hygiene to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

Anyone staying in a shelter is urged to alert shelter staff immediately if he or she begins to feel sick, or if he or she feels sick when arriving at a shelter.

A Local Look

Kinston

Don Hardy, mayor of Kinston, North Carolina, on Monday declared a local state of emergency in his own city; it took effect Monday morning.

The declaration allows the mayor decision-making power in order more quickly access necessary equipment, volunteer workers, emergency supplies and public funds should the storm cause significant damage.

Raleigh

In preparing for the storm's arrival, nine members of the Raleigh Fire Department water rescue team were sent to Williamston on Sunday. According to a Facebook post from the city of Raleigh, the local water rescuers are members of a regional team that includes members from Wake EMS, Durham Fire and Chapel Hill Fire.

Sampson, Harnett and Cumberland Counties

A special weather statement issued by the NWS on Monday warned that a strong thunderstorm would cause strong winds across Sampson, Harnett and Cumberland Counties until 3:15 p.m. Monday.

The storm was capable of producing winds of up to 50 miles per hour, the NWS warned. Residents in Lillington, Dunn, Angier, Godwin, Erwin, Eastover, Coats, Stedman, Wade and Falcon were encouraged to take shelter in a sturdy building.

Debris was capable of causing danger as the storm passed through the area, possibly uprooting small trees and blowing around lightweight outdoor items such as potted plants, trash cans and lawn furniture.

This article originally appeared on the Charlotte Patch