Tropical Storm Arthur: Mandatory Evacuations, State of Emergency Declared in North Carolina Ahead of the Storm

By Sean Breslin Published: July 2,2014, 7:05PM,EDT weather.com

 

Update: Tracking Arthur

States along the Eastern Seaboard are eyeing Tropical Storm Arthur and its possible impacts on the July 4 holiday.
Twenty-five of North Carolina's coastal and inland counties, expected to be among the areas hit hardest by Arthur, were placed under a state of emergency by Gov. Pat McCrory Wednesday afternoon.
"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.”
The city of Boston will move its popular Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular from July 4 to July 3 to avoid possible impacts on the holiday, according to CBS Boston.
(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:

North Carolina

The forecast path puts Arthur near the Carolina coast, if not over land, on the July 4 holiday.
The Dare County Control Group has issued mandatory evacuations for residents and visitors on Hatteras Island beginning at 5:00 a.m. on July 3. After 5:00 a.m., no access will be allowed to Hatteras Island, WSAV Savannah reports. A state of emergency has been issued for all of Dare County with the only restriction being the mandatory evacuation of Hatteras Island.
During a Wednesday afternoon press conference, Gov. McCrory also issued voluntary evacuations for Hyde County.
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.
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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. By Wednesday evening, most of the NPS-run sites in the Outer Banks will be closed, and will likely remain shut down through Friday.
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. Corolla's celebration and fireworks at Whalehead Club have been postponed to an unspecified later date.

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."
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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

Though forecast to remain far at sea while passing the Georgia coast, Tropical Storm Arthur could leave dangerous rip currents in its wake during one of the state's busiest weekends for beach vacations.
The National Hurricane Center on Wednesday predicted the storm's center will stay at least 100 miles from Georgia's beaches as it passes Thursday morning northward toward the Carolinas. Overall that's good news for the tens of thousands of tourists planning to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend on the Georgia coast.
But forecasters warned Arthur could leave turbulent seas in its wake, meaning rip currents strong enough to drag swimmers toward the open ocean could pose threats along Georgia beaches for a full day or more after the storm blows past.
On Tybee Island, which expects up to 30,000 visitors starting Thursday, lifeguards are flying warning flags while the city plans to post a roadside sign alerting beachgoers to beware of rip currents, island Mayor Jason Buelterman said Wednesday. Lifeguards will be prepared to close the waters to swimmers if the seas get too rough, he said.
(MORE: Expert Analysis on Hurricane Season)
"There are a lot of people who aren't familiar with rip tides because they don't live near the coast," Buelterman said. "The main thing is telling people if they have kids to be really, really careful because they can be swept out very, very quickly."
Georgia's beach resorts and parks further south — on St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island and Sea Island — are also booked solid for the weekend with about 16,000 tourists, said Scott McQuade, president of the Golden Isles Convention and Visitors Bureau.
He said the storm should be long gone by Friday night, when residents and visitors will be treated to four separate fireworks displays launched from the islands and mainland. Those with boats can watch all four almost simultaneously.
"I think our visitors are probably watching the weather as closely as we are," McQuade said. "But I think most people from what we can tell are keeping their plans and realizing this isn't going to be a major event here."
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 ON WEATHER.COM: Tracking Arthur

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Cape Hatteras, North Carolina

Vehicles drive off the ferry from Ocracoke Island which officials have called for a voluntary evacuation due to Arthur, July 2, 2014 in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)