Hurricane Florence: Maryland Declares State of Emergency

A state of emergency was issued by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan for the state ahead of Hurricane Florence’s landfall in the southeastern United States.

While Florence is predicted by the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) to make landfall in North Carolina or South Carolina, the storm’s destructive impact may reach Maryland.

Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina have each declared a state of emergency for the hurricane.

“We are preparing for the potential of historic, catastrophic and life-threatening flooding in Maryland,” Hogan said during a news conference on Sept. 10, WTOP reported. “Things are fast-moving and constantly changing,” Hogan added.

Florence is slated to hit the East Coast on Thursday, Sept. 13, but its effects will be felt strongly on the night of Wednesday, Sept. 12.

“A state of emergency is a good indicator that residents should remain alert and follow officials’ orders, news stations, and weather forecasts in order to be informed of the situation,” Russell Strickland, the Maryland Emergency Management Agency’s executive director, said in a statement, according to WBAL.

“The state is taking every precaution and I urge all Marylanders to do the same,” Hogan added.

Category 4 Strength

In its 5 p.m. ET update on Sept. 10, the NHC said Florence is a Category 4 (out of 5), with winds of 140 mph, and is slated to strengthen. It is expected to bring strong  storm surge, destructive winds, and heavy rains to the area.

“The bottom line is that there is high confidence that Florence will be a large and extremely dangerous hurricane, regardless of its exact intensity,” the center said in its discussion of the storm.

It added: “Life-threatening freshwater flooding is likely from a prolonged and exceptionally heavy rainfall event, which may extend inland over the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic for hundreds of miles as Florence is expected to slow down as it approaches the coast and moves inland.”

“A life-threatening storm surge is likely along portions of the coastlines of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, and a Storm Surge Watch will likely be issued for some of these areas by Tuesday morning,” the NHC also stated. “All interests from South Carolina into the mid- Atlantic region should ensure they have their hurricane plan in place and follow any advice given by local officials.”

In its 5 p.m. Sept 10 update, the NHC said Florence is 1,170 miles east-southeast of Cape Fear in North Carolina, moving west-northwest at 13 mph. (NHC

According to NHC forecast maps, Maryland, as well as Washington D.C., could get tropical storm-force winds from Florence.

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered starting 12 p.m. on Sept. 11 for coastal areas around South Carolina after the governor issued an order. North Carolina also began a mandatory evacuation for the Outer Banks as well as Hatteras and Ocracoke islands, WTOP reported.