In Spartanburg, South Carolina Thursday morning, a one person was killed when several cars were submerged in floodwaters underneath a bridge. County Coroner Rusty Clevenger confirmed the death, but did not say whether the person was driving one of the vehicles or a passenger, according to the Weather Channel. When police arrived at the scene, they found four cars in the floods, three of them completely underwater under a bridge at Howard Street and New Cut Road in the city.
In Fayettville, North Carolina, an elderly woman was killed when a 60-foot pine tree fell on the Toyota Corolla she was riding in this afternoon on Interstate 95 north of Godwin, N.C. “It was a freak of nature,” the investigating trooper, S.E. Everett of the state Highway Patrol, told local media.
Hurricane Joaquin in the Bahamas
The Associated Press is reporting that when Joaquin hit the Bahamas, strong winds ripped trees apart while the storm surge in some areas reached up to the bottoms of windows in many homes on Long Island, Bahamas. Over 500 people were trapped in their homes because of the tremendous storm.
Rick Knabb, the Director of the U.S. National Hurricane Center, said during an interview with The Weather Channel, “They’re going to be experiencing hurricane conditions in parts of the Bahamas into Friday. It’s really going to be a rough time down there.” Knabb said parts of the Bahamas could see storm surge raising sea levels 5 to 10 feet (as much as 3 meters) above normal, along with 10 to 15 inches (250 to 380 millimeters) of rain falling on the central Bahamas.
What happens when Joaquin moves out of the Bahamas?
Hurricane conditions are expected to remain over the Bahamas through tonight and tomorrow with the storm forecast to track toward the north, possibly gaining strength as it turns. Already, surf conditions along the southeastern Atlantic Coast are being affected, and these life-threatening swells will move up the coastline over the coming weekend.
A NHC advisory at 5 p.m. reports: “Regardless of Joaquin’s track, a prolonged period of elevated water levels and large waves will affect the mid-Atlantic region, causing significant beach and dune erosion with moderate coastal flooding likely.”
The eastern coast of the U.S. is already being impacted. Cape Lookout, along North Carolina’s Outer Banks was evacuated this morning, and this afternoon, Hyde County announced a mandatory evacuation for Ocracoke Island.
State Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry said the state can expect flooding in poor drainage spots and low-lying areas. “Regardless of the impact of Hurricane Joaquin, North Carolina has the potential for life-threatening flooding within the next week. We don’t know yet how much or how widespread the flooding will be, but we know there will be flooding.”
Up and down the Atlantic coast, governors from New Jersey to South Carolina have declared a hurricane emergency, allowing for the swift movement of resources in the event of flooding or power outages. People are being warned to make preparations for the safety of their families, homes and workplaces.
