Right now, Hurricane Florence is barreling towards the coast of the Carolinas at speeds of nearly 130 mph. As of 9 a.m. today, more than 1 million people are under mandatory evacuation orders including coastal N.C. communities of Bertie, Brunswick, Currituck, Dare, Hyde, New Hanover + Onslo, plus the entire coast of South Carolina.

Lanes along I-26 east toward Charleston (+ U.S. 501 into Myrtle Beach) will be reversed.

This could be the first Category 4 storm to reach the Carolinas since Hugo– and the risk should not be taken lightly. In Western North Carolina, we will likely see high winds and flooding next week. Coastal landfall is anticipated to occur sometime Thursday.

Some important points to consider:

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) releases updates every six hours: at 5 a.m., 11 a.m., 5 p.m., + 11 p.m. Look out for the latest information at those times. However, they released an 8 a.m. update yesterday + will likely update more frequently as Florence moves inland.
The main threat to Asheville will be high winds and heavy rain, along with localized flooding of the French Broad and other local waterways. Know the difference between a flood watch + a flood warning. Watch: take precautions, a flood may occur vs. Warning: seek safety, a flood is occurring.
During heavy rains, avoid driving. If you find yourself in flood conditions on the road, turn your headlights on, try to avoid standing water, and drive slowly. 11 inches of water can move your car and you can be knocked off your feet in 6 inches.
In case winds blow over trees and cause power outages, have an emergency kit ready with a portable cell charger, flashlight + non-perishable foods. Avoid the Parkway or any mountain area during any high winds or rain. Mudslides are likely. See closures here.

How can you help?

We can help our coastal neighbors by reaching out to friends + family in the lowcountry and opening our homes to evacuees. Airbnb will also help connect those who want to host with evacuees through Open Home.

The American Red Cross has a network of shelters which house evacuees, so far the closest being in Greenville S.C. You can donate monetarily here, and stay up-to-date with any specific needs they have (the most requested items are normally socks + underwear). Blood donors are also needed in preparation for the storm. Find a local Blood Connection center here.

The Asheville Humane Society and Brother Wolf both have pet fostering programs. If you have room for a furry friend, consider fostering so those shelters have room for evacuated pets.

Our friends at CHStoday have compiled the most crucial resources into an intensive guide for our coastal neighbors. Pass it on, and keep it handy for flooding later this week. Use it to know where to go to get the latest updates as soon as they come out. Find it here.

Luckily by being in WNC, we won’t see nearly as much of Florence as our N.C. + S.C. coastal friends. But, we still need to prepare ourselves for any strong winds + heavy rain that’s soon to come.

Take all safety protocols and try to stock up on any needed supplies sooner rather than later. Seriously – Ingles, Walmart + other shops are already running low on water.

Stay safe out there, Asheville. And Florence, please go easy on our coasts. 🙏

–The AVLtoday team