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Just moved down to NC coast, still don’t have insurance and my son tells me today that anything over a cat 3 and we’re evacuating to Raleigh,2 hours NW of us. On top of that this will be my first major hurricane. July just moved down from NY, but the last hurricane up there was more of a tv event for us. I’m scared shirtless.

If Matthew makes landfall or gets very close the to the NC coast, it will likely be as a weak Cat 3 or a strong Cat 2; although all that is subject to change either up or down, and down is the more likely scenario.

But I wouldn’t necessarily dismiss a Cat 3 or Cat 2 or even a strong Cat 1 or a strong TS storm. Depending on what you mean by “coast”, i.e. how close you are to the beachfront, winds may not be your biggest risk but rather the storm surge. Even further inland torrential rains and storm surges coming up rivers “could” cause major flooding.

I would check, perhaps talk to your neighbors who have lived there a long time and ask them about the flooding history in your area.

But you can’t completely dismiss the wind shield either. Even TS force winds can do a lot of damage and you could be without power for some days. Being from NY, think about the last really bad thunder storm you’ve experienced, one with very gusty winds (40-50 mph or more) and torrential rains. Now think about that potentially lasting for several hours instead of for what is typical in a thunder storm - 15-20 minutes.

Don’t be scared and don’t panic, but you can do some things now to prepare.

When or if the storm gets closer, secure your property and depending on the forecasted winds in your location, bring in any objects like lawn furniture, trash cans, etc. You may not need to cover windows in plywood but taping them may not be a bad idea if you are going to get hurricane force winds. Again check with your neighbors, especially the ones who have lived in your neighborhood for a long time to see how they are preparing and keep abreast of the forecast and any advisories in your locale.

I would suggest going out today and stocking in some provisions - enough for a week - bottled water and foods that don’t need refrigeration or cooking especially if your only source of cooking is electric (heck, canned soup or chili, etc. may not be great cold, but they are edible – and foods like crackers and peanut butter…) and batteries and flashlights or extra flashlights if you don’t have them. Also make sure you have a battery operated radio. Even if the storm fizzles out or makes an eastward turn, a lot of those provisions will last a long time and come in handy for the “next storm”.

Also fill up your car with gas today just in case you need or feel you need to evacuate and keep it topped off. And if you are in an area where evacuations are ordered, don’t wait until the last minute. Even with a strong TS, roads can flood, some bridges may close, trees can come down and traffic lights go out, making an escape route challenging.

The last TS to hit where I live in Central PA, and far from the coast BTW, TS Lee, there wasn’t any significant winds here but a lot of rain and a lot of flooding. My normal 45-minute commute home turned into over 3 hours due to road closures because of flooding and my work place in Lancaster Co. was closed for two days because of the flooding.

Depending on the strength and path of the storm and your vulnerability to flooding, think about what you need in your “go-bag” should you need to evacuate. Not just enough clothes and toiletries for a few days but what sort of important documents you would need to take with you in a very worst case scenario. You don’t have to pack now, but just give it some thought.

But again, don’t be afraid and don’t panic. The storm is many days out from any US coastal impact and a lot could change between now and then and you’ve got plenty of time to prepare.

Unless you are right on the beach front or along a river, you will likely get a blustery blow and some heavy rain squalls/bands and perhaps lose power for a time. You will be fine if you prepare and use some common sense and just keep aware of the forecast.