Hurricane Earl: Evacuations Have Begun

Hurricane Earl is said to hit the East Coast in just two days. It will start Friday night and go into Sunday. Earl is believed to hit various states along the East Coast, such as the Carolinas, all the way up to Cape Cod. Police officials have already begun the evacuation process today. So far only two states have declared a state of emergency. They are North Carolina and Virginia.

Hurricane Earl has slowed down some but is still a dangerous force. It was categorized as a stage 4 hurricane, with winds ranging from 135 miles per hour to 165 miles per hour. Weather officials are telling residents along the coast to not take this hurricane lightly. Sadly, according to ABC, a lot of residents and vacationers are fluffing the hurricane warning as nothing. When asked about what they think the outcome of the storm will be, they reply “what hurricane” or “no, the weather is beautiful.”

Water waves are estimated to be anywhere from 3 to 5 ft high. The storm is about 400 miles wide and will pack a powerful punch, bringing destruction and flooding to any state it hits. The National Hurricane Center is watching Hurricane Earl on a 24 hour, 7 days a week basis. They are keeping a close eye on this storm and are looking for any indication of change. The FEMA is sending over 300,000 supplies of food, water, and generators in case of emergency to North Carolina.

Officials are saying that in some states evacuation will be mandatory for all. While in other states, the only mandatory evacuees will be vacationers. Residents will be given the choice to flee the state or wait out the storm.

An approximate 500,000 people have been evacuated from North Carolina. There has been no record stating how many people have been evacuated in Virginia.

Continental Airlines told ABC today “to avoid inconvenience, travelers may wish to delay commencement of their trip.” During the weekend, numerous flights are said to be delayed or canceled. It will be best to check the airline before leaving your house to see if your flight will still take place at the scheduled time.

In case you are one of the residents on the East Coast preparing for Hurricane Earl you will want to make sure you have a supply of food and water for emergencies. Make sure you have a 1 gallon bottle of water for each individual person, a few spare blankets and pillows, and non – perishable food.