Hurricane Florence

Hey all. We are SAFE and have been at a campground since Wednesday. The past week has been quite a doozy. Let me be real here: IT HAS BEEN NUTS. IT HAS BEEN INSANE. IT HAS BEEN STRESSFUL. It has been a great reminder to many people that Mother Nature is a powerful and destructible force at times. 

Let's chronologically go through all this. Bear with me. Here's everything our meteorologists/social media/newspapers/etc. have told us from the start. 

(If you're looking for our evacuation post - one is coming, along with another YouTube video. I don't want to get ahead of myself just yet.)

Friday, September 7:
The news warns us that a Category 4 Hurricane is projected to make landfall on the Carolinas - and the path shows a near-direct hit to us in the center of the cone of uncertainty by extension. We start preparing to leave on a moment's notice. It's still too early to know where it might hit, but NOAA is fairly certain it will be the FIFTH EVER major hurricane to hit between GA and VA since 1950. (Spoiler Alert: it hits at a 2, not considered "major" by the NOAA).

Saturday, September 8:
The SC government declares a state of emergency - not only because it is making landfall in the Carolinas, but because it allows our governments (local, county, and state level) to receive extra federal funding and outside help. By the time this gets sent to our phones, we are in FL for Shawn's work; we have to make it back by morning before the police force shuts down the Eastbound lanes of the thruway and turn them in to Westbound lanes  because ALL COASTAL COUNTIES ARE UNDER A MANDATORY EVACUATION. School notifies us that classes are cancelled and the campus will close. Locals start comparing Florence to Hugo (1989; Charleston took a Cat 4 direct hit) and start taking adequate precautions. Charleston hasn't had a direct hit since then.  

Sunday, September 9:
Many people start to prepare for evacuation, just like us. It's a fairly normal day for us weather-wise, but we are definitely moving our butts.

Monday, September 10:
Many people start comparing Florence to Hurricane Hazel (1954) that hit the border of North and South Carolina, that was and is the strongest hurricane to hit there. Hazel had 130 mph sustaining winds and destroyed over 15,000 homes.

Florence is nearly 500 miles across, & winds have increased to 140 mph sustained winds (Cat 4) and expected to near Cat 5. SC Governor McMaster starts giving the public multiple daily press conferences to update progress of the storm and to share VITAL information to residents. At this point, it was expected to hit as a Cat 4 or 5. They already know that once it hits land, it will be moving so slow, causing immense flooding, storm surges, mudslides, etc. South Carolina Governor McMaster reminds everyone that those immediately affected by the hurricane can and will see more rainfall than Hugo. 

Tuesday, September 11:
Home county is under a Hurricane Watch. Florence goes through an eyeball replacement cycle -- meaning that the old eyeball is breaking down and making a new one and expand the storm's wind field further. Flo is just over 500 miles wide - THAT'S 100 MILES WIDER THAN KATRINA. Brandon Miller from CNN puts it in a "local" perspective: 

The tropical storm-force winds stretch more than 335 miles, which is far enough to reach from New York to nearly Toronto.The hurricane-force winds extend 80 miles from the center of the storm and cover more than 15,000 square miles, an area larger than Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island combined. 

Wednesday, September 12:
Florence is being dubbed, "the storm of a lifetime." Predictions regarding its path after landfall become more comprehensive. 

Some also predict that it might strengthen in to a Cat 5:

Also, some more unsettling facts start coming to light:

Jimmy Buffett spotted on a Charleston beach:

Thursday, September 13:
Flooding begins at the Outerbanks. Storm surges are beginning to show. Flo is still a Cat 2 with winds down to 100 mph but with signs of thunderstorms trying to wrap around its center, a potential sign of strengthening. Big flashing reminder with arrows and lit up signs: Hurricane Ike (2008) was a Cat 2, but was the 6th costliest hurricane in U.S. history coming in at $30 billion. 21 direct deaths in three states. Ike had a deadly storm surge, trees falling on to homes, carbon monoxide poisoning and electrocution became a huge concern. 

Florence shrank back to approximately 400 miles across: that's FOUR OHIOS. That's one and two-third Hurricane Harveys. 


Friday, September 14:
Hurricane Florence makes landfall as at Cat 1 just east of Wilmington, NC. New Bern, NC already begins to deal with 10-foot storm surges and major flooding. Less than 12 hours after "impact," over 600,000 customers are without power.  Note I said customers, not people. One home filled with a family of 5 is considered one customer because it's one bill. Keep that in mind when you see the total numbers. Wilmington, NC already had record rainfall for the year; over the next two days, it will get approximately 8 MONTHS OF RAIN. And it's headed toward home as I write this. 

Sorry (but not sorry), Flo. We didn't stick around or head your way. We headed southwest.