Published: September 4,2016
That included a voluntary evacuation of Fire Island, a long barrier island on the southern coast of New York's Long Island, according to Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone. Ferries to and from the island may not be able to operate Sunday afternoon, depending on the weather conditions.
Bellone also announced Saturday via Facebook that a state of emergency has been declared for Suffolk County.
(MORE: Track Hermine as It Moves Up the Coast)
After clobbering the Southeast, Hermine tore up through Georgia, the Carolinas, into Virginia and on up the East Coast, bringing widespread coastal flooding, leaving thousands without power and claiming a second victim.
On Saturday, 64-year-old Michael York died when his tractor-trailer flipped on the U.S. 64 Alligator River Bridge in Dare County, North Carolina, WRIC.com reports. The truck was tossed by high winds created by Hermine.
A
man was killed Saturday after his tractor-trailer overturned because of
high winds on the Lindsay C. Warren Bridge east of Columbia, North
Carolina.(Photo courtesy of Tyrrell County Sheriff's Office)
The storm is expected to cause some coastal flooding and beach erosion in the Northeast. Here are the latest impacts from Hermine.
Connecticut
According to WTNH, the State Emergency Operations Center in Hartford was partially activated Sunday.In a new conference on Sunday, Gov. Dannel Malloy spoke on the possible effects of Hermine.
“The latest forecast suggests the storm will have minimal impact on the state but the biggest the biggest concerns are minor to moderate flooding during the high tide cycles and dangerous rip currents as well as wind conditions that may develop. If you live in low-lying flood-prone areas, stay alert to changing weather conditions especially during high tide cycles over the next two days," he said.
Massachusetts
Officials with the Steamship Authority said Sunday that ferry services across southern New England were being interrupted because of the tropical weather system.Ferry service to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard was suspended on Sunday and could be suspended on Monday, as well. The Island Queen canceled service between Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard Sunday through Monday.
New York
All of Long Island's beaches will be closed to swimming on Sunday due to strong, life-threatening rip currents, the AP added.A kite surfer had to be rescued Saturday after he was pushed far offshore of Fire Island, NBC 4 New York reports. A Coast Guard crew aboard a 47-foot motor lifeboat pulled the man out of the water after finding him about a mile southwest of Democrat Point. He was uninjured.
In a Friday morning news conference, New York City mayor Bill de Blasio warned residents that heavy rains and strong winds could cause flooding and damage for several days. He banned swimming at all beaches within the city limits but had not yet called off Labor Day festivals and parades, the AP reported.
(MORE: Florida Residents Ordered to Evacuate Days After Hermine's Landfall)
On Long Island, officials asked residents to begin preparations for the storm while crews tie down boats and build sand dunes to shield the coastline, ABC New York reported.
"Being prepared before an event happens is probably the most important thing you can do," Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone told ABC New York.
New Jersey
Gov. Chris Christie has declared a state of emergency for three shore counties ahead of Tropical Storm Hermine. Residents and visitors heading to East Coast beaches for the Labor Day weekend can expect a multi-day siege of coastal flooding, beach erosion and strong winds as the storm churns northward.Police in Ocean City, New Jersey have already reported that several water rescues have taken place.
"People. Don't be stupid," read a Facebook post on the OCPD page. "Do not put responders lives in jeopardy because you want to risk your own."
"No evacuation order is in place, but all guests who do not need to be on the island are encouraged to return to the mainland until the storm passes," said the statement. "Residents who live in areas prone to flooding should begin to make arrangements with friends and families, if possible."
Business owners along the shoreline are already feeling the impact of the storm from a financial standpoint, as foot traffic was notably lessened on the boardwalk.
"We depend on the holiday weekends," Cape May County Chamber of Commerce President Vicki Clark told 6ABC. "Tourism is the number one driver of our economy here, so anytime you impact that with a weather event, you can do a lot of damage to our local economy."
All non-residents of Stone Harbor, New Jersey are being asked to leave the island ahead of the storm.
Major beach erosion already occurring in Holgate, NJ @GarySzatkowski @GardenStateWX
Air travel was also impacted by Hermine. According to NJ.com, JetBlue, Delta and United all issued travel waivers for Friday and Saturday flights affected by the storm.
Delaware
Gov Jack Markell declared a limited state of emergency for Sussex County starting Saturday evening, allowing emergency staff and equipment to be pre-positioned in areas expected to be hit hardest by the storm, according to the Delaware News Journal.Jason Miller, a spokesman for Gov. Markell, said the emergency declaration is not accompanied by any evacuation orders or driving bans, the report added.
Nevertheless, residents and officials along the coast were preparing for the storm to possibly bring coastal flooding and beach erosion to the First State.
"Right now it’s just a waiting game," Bowers Volunteer Fire Company Chief Phil Pennington told the News Journal. " Storms are unpredictable, but we’ll be ready."
Maryland
On Saturday, Gov. Larry Hogan ordered the Maryland National Guard to deploy units to Ocean City, according to the Baltimore Sun.National Guard officials told the Sun the deployment was a "precautionary measure," noting that in previous storms the Guard has used Humvees and other tactical trucks to drive through high water.
(MORE: Send Us Your Photos From Hermine)
Hogan also called on non-residents to refrain from coming to the seaside resort town.
"I have reached out to Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan and agree with his assessment — anyone planning to travel to the beach this weekend that has not already departed should stay home until the agenda of the storm are over," Hogan said in a statement. "I encourage all Marylanders, especially those on the Lower Shore, to use common sense and stay safe during this time."
Beaches were closed to swimming on Friday.
Virginia
Three people and a dog were rescued after their boat was damaged and began to sink early Saturday morning, Coast Guard officials told WVEC-TV.According to the Coast Guard, the 60-foot fishing boat ran aground near Wachapreague Inlet, and although they were able to free the boat, it sustained major damage in the incident. A Coast Guard boat searched for three and a half hours and were finally able to locate the boat, but Hermine's heavy surf forced them to rescue the boaters and their pet by helicopter, the report added.
"Complicated heavy weather events like Post Tropical Storm Hermine require difficult decisions, and in this case, the captain and crew decided to abandon the vessel, possibly saving their lives," Capt. Rick Wester, Commander, Sector Hampton Roads, told WVEC-TV. "We're very glad we were able to return them to safety and that they are doing well."
Widespread flooding was reported in Norfolk after storm surge combined with high tide Saturday morning flooded downtown streets and neighborhoods.
A tractor-trailer was overturned on Interstate 64 in Hampton Saturday morning, WAVY.com reports. There were no injuries reported.
Tractor trailer accident E-I 64/Lasalle. Neg injuries expect traffic delays.
Fewer than 10,000 customers remained without power across the state Sunday morning.
North Carolina
Officials warned people to avoid swimming in coastal waters, as heavy rains and flooding from Hermine could have increased the polluted runoff, leading to excessive bacteria in the water.Four people were injured and two trailers were damaged after an unconfirmed tornado struck a Hatteras campground, according to AP.
According to Dominion Power, 152,000 customers in Hampton Roads and northeastern North Carolina have been affected so far by power outages, but only a few thousand outages remained Sunday.
On Friday, Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency for 33 counties in eastern North Carolina.
#Hermine is upon us! Check out this photo a viewer sent of flooding in Kill Devil Hills. Send photos: #13StormMode
A 17-year-old girl was reportedly found dead in a neighborhood a pool in
the Raleigh area Saturday, WNCN.com reported. Officials believe she was
possibly electrocuted, though she may have died of natural causes. Duke
Energy confirmed that a power line was down in the area, but the
line is not their property.
An autopsy will be conducted Monday.
South Carolina
Parts of South Carolina, especially the Lowcountry, experienced heavy rainfall and strong winds associated with Hermine, leaving thousands without power Friday. However, Emergency Management Division spokesman Derrec Becker told the AP that there was no major damage reported and a state of emergency was not declared by Gov. Nikki Haley.Nearly all power outages had been restored by Sunday morning.
Georgia
As of Sunday morning, fewer than 5,000 Georgia Power customers remained without power statewide.Crews conducted damage assessment and removed trees from roadways Friday and Saturday. Clean-up efforts will continue Monday as the public works in the county begin to remove debris, the AP reports.
A possible tornado spawned by Hermine downed trees and damaged 10 to 15 structures in Chatham County early Friday morning, according to the county's Emergency Management Agency.
In Valdosta, 84-year-old Melvin Gatlin Sr. said he was jarred awake by a pine tree that came crashing down onto his property, scraping his house with enough force that water was seeping in.
"I thought somebody had shot me, the way it sounded," he told the AP.
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