Hurricane Matthew Live Thread II

Hurricane Matthew is big, bad and just downright scary, with iminent and sustained impacts to U.S. mainland. Florida Governor Rick Scott issued a state of emergency for all of Florida and disaster operations are activated. More than 1.5 million Floridians reside in current evacuation zones. Governor Scott has spoken with utilities across the state to ensure utilities are pre-positioned and there are no unmet needs. Multiple coastal hospitals have been evacuated. Meanwhile, feckless President Barack Hussein Obama is personally monitoring the progress of the storm.

If the info above doesn't satisfy your need for speed and graphics, strap yourself in for a ride to Mike's Weather Page

NWS.

HURRICANE MATTHEW LOCAL STATEMENT INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 37A
GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040-042>045-047>052-072100-

HURRICANE MATTHEW LOCAL STATEMENT INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 37A
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC AL142016
852 AM EDT FRI OCT 7 2016

THIS PRODUCT COVERS SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA

**EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE MATTHEW TRACKING ALONG THE EAST COAST
OF FLORIDA AND THEN HEADING TOWARD GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA**

NEW INFORMATION

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- NONE

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR INLAND
BRYAN...COASTAL BRYAN...INLAND CHATHAM...COASTAL
CHATHAM...INLAND LIBERTY...COASTAL LIBERTY...INLAND
MCINTOSH...COASTAL MCINTOSH...INLAND BERKELEY...INLAND
JASPER...BEAUFORT...COASTAL COLLETON...CHARLESTON...COASTAL
JASPER AND TIDAL BERKELEY
- A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR
JENKINS...SCREVEN...CANDLER...BULLOCH...EFFINGHAM...TATTNALL...
EVANS...LONG...ALLENDALE...HAMPTON...INLAND COLLETON AND DORCHESTER

* STORM INFORMATION:
- ABOUT 260 MILES SOUTH OF CHARLESTON SC OR ABOUT 220 MILES
SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF SAVANNAH GA
- 28.9N 80.3W
- STORM INTENSITY 120 MPH
- MOVEMENT NORTH-NORTHWEST OR 330 DEGREES AT 13 MPH

SITUATION OVERVIEW

HURRICANE MATTHEW WILL TRACK NORTH ALONG/NEAR THE EAST COAST OF
FLORIDA TODAY...THEN CONTINUE NORTH NEAR THE GEORGIA COAST EARLY THIS
EVENING INTO TONIGHT. THE HURRICANE COULD CONTINUE TO TRACK NEAR
THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST SATURDAY BEFORE TURNING EAST AND FURTHER
OFFSHORE. MATTHEW COULD BE A CATEGORY 2 OR CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE AS IT
PASSES CLOSE TO THE GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA COASTS.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE FORECAST TO REACH COASTAL SOUTHEAST
GEORGIA AND COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON...THEN SPREAD INTO
INLAND AREAS TONIGHT. ACROSS INLAND AREAS...SUSTAINED WINDS COULD
REACH AS HIGH AS 35-45 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 50-60 MPH. NEAR THE IMMEDIATE
COAST...SUSTAINED WINDS OF 55-65 MPH WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 80 MPH WILL
BE POSSIBLE. THESE WINDS WILL LIKELY DAMAGE TREES AND WEAKER STRUCTURES
AND RESULT IN WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES. THERE IS AN INCREASING RISK OF
SUSTAINED HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COASTLINE IF
MATTHEW MAINTAINS A CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE COAST. THE THREAT FOR
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WILL INCREASE FOR COASTAL LOCATIONS LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT INTO SATURDAY...THEN LOWER AS MATTHEW SHIFTS AWAY FROM THE COAST
SATURDAY EVENING INTO SATURDAY NIGHT. THE THREAT FOR TROPICAL STORM
FORCE WINDS OR HIGHER SHOULD BEGIN TO DECREASE IN GEORGIA SATURDAY
NIGHT AND IN SOUTH CAROLINA SATURDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY SUNDAY.

THE LATEST TRACK OF MATTHEW IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE WIDESPREAD RAINFALL
TOTALS OF 8 TO 14 INCHES WITH ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS...HIGHEST ALONG
THE COAST. RAINFALL TOTALS WILL RANGE FROM 4 TO 8 INCHES ACROSS FAR
INLAND LOCATIONS. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BEGIN THIS MORNING AND CONTINUE
THROUGH SATURDAY...TAPERING OFF SATURDAY NIGHT FROM SOUTHWEST TO
NORTHEAST. THESE RAINFALL AMOUNTS COULD RESULT IN EXTENSIVE FRESH
WATER FLOODING...ESPECIALLY DURING THE TIMES OF HIGH TIDE AND MAXIMUM
STORM SURGE NEAR THE COAST.

THE MOST LIKELY STORM SURGE SCENARIO ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANE MATTHEW
IS 7 TO 9 FEET OF INUNDATION ABOVE GROUND LEVEL IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA
WITH LOCALLY HIGHER LEVELS. IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA...4 TO 8 FEET
OF INUNDATION WITH LOCALLY HIGHER LEVELS IS EXPECTED. STORM SURGE
FORECASTS COULD BE HIGHER OR LOWER DEPENDING ON THE TRACK AND INTENSITY
OF MATTHEW AS IT APPROACHES THE AREA. THE COMBINATION OF STORM SURGE
AND WAVES COULD RESULT IN MAJOR COASTAL FLOODING AND SEVERE BEACH
EROSION. HOMES...STRUCTURES AND ROADS NEAR BEACHES COULD BE COMPROMISED.
DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS AND LARGE WAVES WILL MAKE FOR TREACHEROUS SURF
CONDITIONS THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

THE THREAT FOR TORNADOES WILL REMAIN LOW THIS WEEKEND BECAUSE THE
CENTER OF HURRICANE MATTHEW IS ANTICIPATED TO REMAIN OFFSHORE.
HOWEVER...THERE IS A RISK FOR ISOLATED TORNADOES IN COASTAL AREAS
FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY AS RAIN BANDS MOVE ONSHORE.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS

* WIND:
PROTECT AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING WIND HAVING POSSIBLE DEVASTATING
IMPACTS ACROSS SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. POTENTIAL
IMPACTS IN THIS AREA INCLUDE:
- STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO STURDY BUILDINGS, SOME WITH COMPLETE ROOF
AND WALL FAILURES. COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF MOBILE HOMES. DAMAGE
GREATLY ACCENTUATED BY LARGE AIRBORNE PROJECTILES. LOCATIONS
MAY BE UNINHABITABLE FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS.
- UNSAFE TO SHELTER EVEN IN WELL-CONSTRUCTED BUILDINGS.
IMPOSSIBLE TO VENTURE OUTSIDE DUE TO FALLING OBJECTS AND
AIRBORNE PROJECTILES.
- NUMEROUS LARGE TREES SNAPPED OR UPROOTED ALONG WITH FENCES AND
ROADWAY SIGNS BLOWN OVER.
- MANY ROADS IMPASSABLE FROM LARGE DEBRIS, AND MORE WITHIN URBAN
OR HEAVILY WOODED LOCATIONS. MOST OR ALL BRIDGES AND ACCESS
ROUTES IMPASSABLE.
- WIDESPREAD DAMAGE TO POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE
WITH RESULTING OUTAGES POSSIBLY LASTING FOR WEEKS OR LONGER.
GAS LEAKS AND FALLEN ELECTRIC WIRES POSE A THREAT TO LIFE.
- MANY VESSELS WILL LIKELY BREAK FREE FROM MOORINGS.

* SURGE:
PROTECT AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING SURGE HAVING POSSIBLE DEVASTATING
IMPACTS ACROSS COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA AND COASTAL GEORGIA. POTENTIAL
IMPACTS IN THIS AREA INCLUDE:
- WIDESPREAD DEEP INUNDATION OF SALTWATER ALONG IMMEDIATE
SHORELINES AND IN LOW-LYING SPOTS FARTHER INLAND NEAR RIVERS
AND CREEKS, WITH STORM SURGE FLOODING GREATLY ACCENTUATED BY
POWERFUL BATTERING WAVES. MANY BUILDINGS WASHED AWAY OR
EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED. DAMAGE GREATLY COMPOUNDED BY CONSIDERABLE
BATTERING BY FLOATING DEBRIS. LOCATIONS MAY BE UNINHABITABLE
FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD.
- NEAR-SHORE ESCAPE ROUTES AND SECONDARY ROADS WASHED OUT OR
SEVERELY FLOODED. FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEMS AND BARRIERS MAY BECOME
STRESSED OR OVERWHELMED.
- EXTREME BEACH EROSION LIKELY WITH SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF DUNES.
POTENTIAL FOR NEW INLETS CARVED INTO OR THROUGH SOME BARRIER
ISLANDS. LARGE AMOUNTS OF SAND BLOCKING ROADS ON BARRIER
ISLANDS.
- MASSIVE DAMAGE TO MARINAS, DOCKS, BOARDWALKS, AND PIERS.
NUMEROUS SMALL CRAFT BROKEN AWAY FROM MOORINGS WITH MANY LIFTED
ONSHORE AND STRANDED. MANY AIDS TO NAVIGATION LOST. SIGNIFICANT
DEBRIS PRESENTS A HAZARD TO NAVIGATION.
- WATER AND SEWER SERVICES LIKELY NOT AVAILABLE.
- HAZARDOUS CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS LIKELY PRESENT IN SURGE
WATERS.
- GAS LEAKS AND FALLEN ELECTRIC WIRES POSE A THREAT TO LIFE.

* FLOODING RAIN:
PROTECT AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING POSSIBLE
EXTENSIVE IMPACTS ACROSS SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHEAST
GEORGIA...ESPECIALLY FOR LOCATIONS EAST OF HIGHWAY 308 IN GEORGIA AND
EAST OF INTERSTATE 95 IN SOUTH CAROLINA. POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE:
- MAJOR RAINFALL FLOODING MAY PROMPT MANY EVACUATIONS AND RESCUES.
- RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES MAY RAPIDLY OVERFLOW THEIR BANKS IN
MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. SMALL STREAMS, CREEKS, CANALS, DITCHES MAY
BECOME DANGEROUS RIVERS. FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEMS AND BARRIERS
COULD BECOME STRESSED.
- FLOOD WATERS COULD ENTER MANY STRUCTURES WITHIN MULTIPLE
COMMUNITIES; SOME STRUCTURES BECOME UNINHABITABLE OR ARE WASHED
AWAY. FLOOD WATERS COULD COVER MULTIPLE ESCAPE ROUTES. STREETS
AND PARKING LOTS BECOME RIVERS OF MOVING WATER WITH UNDERPASSES
SUBMERGED. DRIVING CONDITIONS BECOME DANGEROUS. MANY ROAD AND
BRIDGE CLOSURES WITH SOME WEAKENED OR WASHED OUT.
- DRINKING WATER AND SEWER SERVICES COULD BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED.
- HAZARDOUS CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS POSSIBLY PRESENT IN FLOOD
WATERS.

* TORNADOES:
PROTECT AGAINST A TORNADO EVENT HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS
ACROSS COASTAL SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. POTENTIAL
IMPACTS INCLUDE:
- ISOLATED TORNADOES CAN HINDER THE EXECUTION OF EMERGENCY PLANS.
- ISOLATED LOCATIONS COULD EXPERIENCE TORNADO DAMAGE, ALONG WITH
POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS DISRUPTIONS.
- IN ISOLATED LOCATIONS, TORNADOES COULD DAMAGE TREES, VEHICLES,
BOATS AND BUILDINGS, ESPECIALLY MOBILE HOMES AND AND OTHER
POORLY CONSTRUCTED STRUCTURES.

* OTHER COASTAL HAZARDS:
DANGEROUS AND FREQUENT RIP CURRENTS...HIGH SURF AND SIGNIFICANT BEACH
EROSION ARE EXPECTED ALONG COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA AND COASTAL GEORGIA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS

* EVACUATIONS:
IF EVACUATING THE AREA, STICK TO PRESCRIBED EVACUATION ROUTES.
LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC INFORMATION ON ROADWAY SMART SIGNS
AND LISTEN TO SELECT RADIO CHANNELS FOR FURTHER TRAVEL INSTRUCTIONS.
DRIVERS SHOULD NOT USE CELL PHONES WHILE OPERATING VEHICLES.

IF EVACUATING AWAY FROM THE AREA OR RELOCATING TO A NEARBY SHELTER,
LEAVE EARLY BEFORE WEATHER CONDITIONS BECOME HAZARDOUS.

* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
NOW IS THE TIME TO BRING TO COMPLETION ALL PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT
LIFE AND PROPERTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR EMERGENCY PLAN.

OUTSIDE PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE WRAPPED UP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE
WEATHER CONDITIONS COMPLETELY DETERIORATE. ANY REMAINING EVACUATIONS
AND RELOCATIONS SHOULD BE EXPEDITED BEFORE THE ONSET OF TROPICAL
STORM FORCE WIND.

IF YOU ARE RELOCATING TO SAFE SHELTER, LEAVE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. IF
HEADING TO A COMMUNITY SHELTER, BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE SHELTER
RULES BEFORE ARRIVAL, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS OR OWN A
PET. TAKE ESSENTIAL ITEMS WITH YOU FROM YOUR EMERGENCY SUPPLIES KIT.
CHECK THE LATEST WEATHER FORECAST BEFORE DEPARTING.

FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY SHELTER MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR LOSS OF
LIFE. ALWAYS HEED THE ADVICE OF LOCAL OFFICIALS AND COMPLY WITH ANY
ORDERS THAT ARE ISSUED. REMEMBER, DURING THE STORM 9 1 1 EMERGENCY
SERVICES MAY NOT BE ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESPOND IF CONDITIONS ARE
UNSAFE. THIS SHOULD BE A BIG FACTOR IN YOUR DECISION MAKING.

CHECK-IN WITH YOUR EMERGENCY POINTS OF CONTACT AMONG FAMILY, FRIENDS,
AND CO-WORKERS. INFORM THEM OF YOUR STATUS AND WELL-BEING. LET THEM
KNOW HOW YOU INTEND TO RIDE OUT THE STORM AND WHEN YOU PLAN TO
CHECK-IN AGAIN.

KEEP CELL PHONES WELL CHARGED AND HANDY. ALSO, CELL PHONE CHARGERS
FOR AUTOMOBILES CAN BE HELPFUL AFTER THE STORM. LOCATE YOUR CHARGERS
AND KEEP THEM WITH YOUR CELL PHONE.

IN EMERGENCIES IT IS BEST TO REMAIN CALM. STAY INFORMED AND FOCUSED
ON THE SITUATION AT HAND. EXERCISE PATIENCE WITH THOSE YOU ENCOUNTER.
BE A GOOD SAMARITAN AND HELPFUL TO OTHERS.

IF RELOCATING TO A NEARBY SHELTER OR TO THE HOME OF A FAMILY MEMBER
OR FRIEND, DRIVE WITH EXTRA CAUTION, ESPECIALLY ON SECONDARY ROADS.
REMEMBER, MANY BRIDGES AND CAUSEWAYS WILL BE CLOSED ONCE HIGHER WINDS
ARRIVE. ALSO, IF YOU ENCOUNTER WATER COVERING THE ROAD, SEEK AN
ALTERNATE ROUTE. ALWAYS OBEY OFFICIAL ROAD SIGNS FOR CLOSURES AND
DETOURS.

IF YOU ARE A VISITOR AND STILL IN THE AREA, LISTEN FOR THE NAME OF
THE CITY OR TOWN IN WHICH YOU ARE STAYING WITHIN LOCAL NEWS UPDATES.
BE SURE YOU KNOW THE NAME OF THE COUNTY OR PARISH IN WHICH IT
RESIDES. PAY ATTENTION FOR INSTRUCTIONS FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES.

CLOSELY MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER LOCAL NEWS OUTLETS FOR
OFFICIAL STORM INFORMATION. BE READY TO ADAPT TO POSSIBLE CHANGES TO
THE FORECAST.

* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
- FOR INFORMATION ON APPROPRIATE PREPARATIONS SEE READY.GOV
- FOR INFORMATION ON CREATING AN EMERGENCY PLAN SEE GETAGAMEPLAN.ORG
- FOR ADDITIONAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION SEE REDCROSS.ORG

NEXT UPDATE

THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN CHARLESTON SC AROUND 1215 PM EDT, OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS
WARRANT.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.