States along the Southeast coast are eying Tropical Storm Arthur and its possible impacts on the July 4 holiday.
"This event serves as an important reminder to all Florida families and visitors that hurricane season is here, and it is important that we remain vigilant and have a plan for protecting our families, our homes and our businesses," Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Tuesday. "Families must get a plan and make sure they’re stocked up on critical storm supplies so our communities are prepared for the worst.”
(FORECAST: The Latest on Tropical Storm Arthur)
Meteorologists warn no matter where the tropical storm ultimately makes landfall, the Southeast coast will likely see impacts.
Here is a look at how each state is dealing with preparations for Arthur:
The NCDOT sent crews to stage front end loaders, bulldozers and motor graders along N.C. 12 in Ocracoke, Rodanthe and Pea Island, all coastal communities well-familiar with tropical activity. Ferry service for Dare and Hyde counties is running on its regular schedule, but they cannot safely operate once winds reach 30-35 mph, the DOT added.
(WATCH: What Is Storm Surge?)
The motel Shutters on the Banks was completely booked for the holiday weekend, general manager John Zeller said, despite forecasts for potentially heavy rain, gusty winds and isolated tornadoes late Thursday and Friday.
"We have received some cancelations but not too many," he said. "Basically we are telling people to kind of wait and see what happens."
The motel has a 72-hour advance notice on cancelations, but Zeller said it will be waived if the storm tracks toward the area or warnings are issued.
The National Park Service will close North Carolina's Cape Lookout National Seashore to the public at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
A few holiday festivities have already been postponed, reports the Outer Banks Voice. Fireworks at Avon Pier will be moved to Monday at 9 p.m., and Manteo's downtown celebration and fireworks have been postponed until Sunday.
Myrtle Beach officials were also preparing residents for the event. Horry County spokeswoman Kelly Brosky told Myrtle Beach Online that residents should review hurricane plans and ensure they have water, batteries and flashlights handy.
(MORE: Here's What You Need to Prepare for a Hurricane)
Horry County moved to Operating Condition Level 4, the report added, which puts the county on alert but doesn't yet activate the county's Emergency Operations Center.
The South Carolina Electric & Gas Company is also monitoring the situation.
Red flags warned of rough surf, and beachgoers were advised to get into the water only in areas with staffed lifeguard stands. But overall, Witcher said, "it's business as usual."
(WATCH: Heroes of Superstorm Sandy Save Neighborhood)
Red flags also flew Tuesday at Daytona Beach. By midday, a dozen swimmers had been aided by lifeguards when they got caught in a rip current. On any given day, 15 to 20 swimmers need help, said Tammy Marris, spokeswoman for the Volusia County Beach Patrol.
Near the storm, 19 ill crew members were evacuated from a South Korean cargo ship after they showed signs of food poisoning. The cargo ship JS Comet was anchored 3 miles off Cape Canaveral, and the Coast Guard reported that deteriorating weather conditions were one factor in the decision to evacuate.
"I think everybody's keeping one eye on the weather and one eye on the events this weekend," Joe Marinelli, president of Visit Savannah, told the Associated Press.
Cancelations aren't uncommon when storms approach, but those calls weren't coming in Tuesday, Marinelli said.
(MORE: Expert Analysis on Hurricane Season)
Amy Gaster said her Tybee Island vacation rental company had more than 200 beach homes and condos booked for the weekend, likely to be the busiest of the year. If forecasts start to show a serious threat, Gaster said her staff was prepared to send alerts to guests' cellphones.
But as long as Arthur stays offshore, she said her biggest concerns are rip currents and possible thundershowers on Thursday, when thousands are expected to pack the Georgia coast's largest public beach for fireworks.
"Hopefully Mother Nature is going to cooperate with us this year," Gaster said.
Get The Weather Channel's latest forecast here. For updates anytime, follow @weatherchannel on Twitter.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
MORE: Strange Tropical Cyclone Tracks
"This event serves as an important reminder to all Florida families and visitors that hurricane season is here, and it is important that we remain vigilant and have a plan for protecting our families, our homes and our businesses," Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Tuesday. "Families must get a plan and make sure they’re stocked up on critical storm supplies so our communities are prepared for the worst.”
(FORECAST: The Latest on Tropical Storm Arthur)
Meteorologists warn no matter where the tropical storm ultimately makes landfall, the Southeast coast will likely see impacts.
North Carolina
The forecast path puts Arthur near the Carolina coast, if not over land, on the July 4 holiday. As of late Wednesday morning, no evacuation orders have been issued for any residents, reports the North Carolina Department of Transportation.The NCDOT sent crews to stage front end loaders, bulldozers and motor graders along N.C. 12 in Ocracoke, Rodanthe and Pea Island, all coastal communities well-familiar with tropical activity. Ferry service for Dare and Hyde counties is running on its regular schedule, but they cannot safely operate once winds reach 30-35 mph, the DOT added.
(WATCH: What Is Storm Surge?)
The motel Shutters on the Banks was completely booked for the holiday weekend, general manager John Zeller said, despite forecasts for potentially heavy rain, gusty winds and isolated tornadoes late Thursday and Friday.
"We have received some cancelations but not too many," he said. "Basically we are telling people to kind of wait and see what happens."
The motel has a 72-hour advance notice on cancelations, but Zeller said it will be waived if the storm tracks toward the area or warnings are issued.
The National Park Service will close North Carolina's Cape Lookout National Seashore to the public at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
A few holiday festivities have already been postponed, reports the Outer Banks Voice. Fireworks at Avon Pier will be moved to Monday at 9 p.m., and Manteo's downtown celebration and fireworks have been postponed until Sunday.
South Carolina
In Folly Beach, dozens of people fished from the pier under sunny skies Tuesday. Others surfed on gentle swells, sunbathed and looked for shells.Myrtle Beach officials were also preparing residents for the event. Horry County spokeswoman Kelly Brosky told Myrtle Beach Online that residents should review hurricane plans and ensure they have water, batteries and flashlights handy.
(MORE: Here's What You Need to Prepare for a Hurricane)
Horry County moved to Operating Condition Level 4, the report added, which puts the county on alert but doesn't yet activate the county's Emergency Operations Center.
The South Carolina Electric & Gas Company is also monitoring the situation.
Florida
Off Florida's Space Coast beaches - the closest to Arthur - the sky was cloudy and winds fairly normal Tuesday, said Eisen Witcher, assistant chief of Brevard County Ocean Rescue.Red flags warned of rough surf, and beachgoers were advised to get into the water only in areas with staffed lifeguard stands. But overall, Witcher said, "it's business as usual."
(WATCH: Heroes of Superstorm Sandy Save Neighborhood)
Red flags also flew Tuesday at Daytona Beach. By midday, a dozen swimmers had been aided by lifeguards when they got caught in a rip current. On any given day, 15 to 20 swimmers need help, said Tammy Marris, spokeswoman for the Volusia County Beach Patrol.
Near the storm, 19 ill crew members were evacuated from a South Korean cargo ship after they showed signs of food poisoning. The cargo ship JS Comet was anchored 3 miles off Cape Canaveral, and the Coast Guard reported that deteriorating weather conditions were one factor in the decision to evacuate.
Georgia
About 110 miles north of the Florida-Georgia border in Savannah, where hotel rooms are expected to be at least 80-percent full for the holiday, people are closely monitoring the forecast."I think everybody's keeping one eye on the weather and one eye on the events this weekend," Joe Marinelli, president of Visit Savannah, told the Associated Press.
Cancelations aren't uncommon when storms approach, but those calls weren't coming in Tuesday, Marinelli said.
(MORE: Expert Analysis on Hurricane Season)
Amy Gaster said her Tybee Island vacation rental company had more than 200 beach homes and condos booked for the weekend, likely to be the busiest of the year. If forecasts start to show a serious threat, Gaster said her staff was prepared to send alerts to guests' cellphones.
But as long as Arthur stays offshore, she said her biggest concerns are rip currents and possible thundershowers on Thursday, when thousands are expected to pack the Georgia coast's largest public beach for fireworks.
"Hopefully Mother Nature is going to cooperate with us this year," Gaster said.
Get The Weather Channel's latest forecast here. For updates anytime, follow @weatherchannel on Twitter.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
MORE: Strange Tropical Cyclone Tracks
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