An Unwanted Visitor Approaches
By DW Davis
@DWDavis (25812)
Pikeville, North Carolina
September 10, 2018 8:16pm CST
Sometime later this week, possible beginning on Wednesday and certainly by Thursday, we here in eastern North Carolina are expecting an unwanted visitor named Florence.
Florence is now a Category 4 Hurricane with winds in the 140 mph (225 kph) range and it may get bigger and stronger before it reaches our coast. Preparations are underway all along the coasts of both Carolinas and Virginia, as well as several miles inland as far as Raleigh and beyond.
Here where the missus and I are, we are ready to sit out the storm and its aftermath. We are stocking up on ice to keep perishables cold as long as we can for the inevitable loss of power. I've also filled both propane tanks on the camper so we will be able to cook and use the fridge in the camper while the electricity is off. Tomorrow, I will fill the fresh water tank on the camper. That will give us 43 extra gallons of water should the county water system be down for any prolonged length of time.
Other wise, we'll be able to keep the camper battery charged with the solar panel once the storm has passed, so we should be able to charge our phones and tablets, provided cell service isn't knocked out.
As yet, there have been no cancellations of work or school announced in our area, thought the coastal schools and colleges are already either closing or announcing closures. I imagine I will find out what our principal is thinking at our staff meeting in the morning.
If you are a praying person, please pray for everyone in the path of this storm. It is predicted to be the worst to hit NC since Hurricane Hazel in the 1950s.
Are you in the path of any of the many storms out there this week?
18 people like this
22 responses
@cintol (11261)
• United States
11 Sep 18
I pray for all of you that it weakens before it hits and your all safe. That would be so scary to be in the path of something like that, I have never lived in an area where we had to deal with that. We are getting lots of rain from the last one that hit but its ending now. Be safe and evacuate when they tell you too.
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (40570)
• United States
12 Sep 18
We've been through many hurricanes, but they're always scary.
2 people like this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
11 Sep 18
Hope you are spared
We had one a mini tornado in 2015 that came without warning. It left behind chopped trees, water tank that fell off.............. Kept us on not so happy toes.
2 people like this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
12 Sep 18
@1creekgirl This was a small one but our first experience It sounded like a bulldozer.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40570)
• United States
12 Sep 18
Tornadoes can certainly be deadly also.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (79843)
• United States
11 Sep 18
You sound pretty prepared (as well as you can be I guess). Looks like Florence is going to hit your area hard and I pray that you are safe as well as everyone else in its path.
I'm inland well get residual rain an winds probably later on in the week.
2 people like this
@rsa101 (37968)
• Philippines
11 Sep 18
I do pray and hope that it would not make a landfall or if it is inevitable then it would weaken before it lands. I know personally how this storms go by. My country is also often hit by tropical typhoons as well and when it comes people are usually helpless if the storm that hits goes to a super typhoon category. The devastation and destruction of our place is really catastrophic.
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (37968)
• Philippines
12 Sep 18
@DWDavis Yes if the forecast would be right we would be hit in the northernmost part of the country. Sparing us in the Capital City slightly. But this is super typhoon category so we are expected to experience slightly the effects of the typhoon. We are now experiencing heavy rains. This is not part of the Typhoon yet but they are pulling rain clouds from the western part of the country. The typhoons is forecasted to hit land by Sunday if the forecast are correct.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
11 Sep 18
I've seen many posts on facebook, one of them at Wrightsville Beach where there is a literal post with markings on it from past hurricanes that blew through. There are so many posts warning people to stay vigilant and not take any risks.
Florence will be tip-tip-tapping as far as where we are in Winston Salem.
I hope you guys stay safe.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
12 Sep 18
@DWDavis I certainly hope that the community will be able to rebuild. Of course, I also hope that Florence won't blow as bad as is expected, but that's just wishful thinking.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
12 Sep 18
@ScribbledAdNauseum I hope all but one small part of the community at WB is able to rebuild. I'd like to see Shell Island Resort washed out to sea never to be replaced. They ruined a beautiful, natural part of the island when they build that monstrous monument to greed.
@1creekgirl (40570)
• United States
11 Sep 18
We're 90 miles inland and in the path. Stay safe, we all have to keep praying.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40570)
• United States
12 Sep 18
@DWDavis Yes, we've been getting ready. Hope not to have to evacuate, but can if needed. Hope you all stay safe too.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21736)
• Canada
11 Sep 18
It sounds like you and your wife are well prepared to weather the aftermath of Florence. We've been watching and praying. The storm seems to be headed directly for NC with no waivering. It hasn't gained much strength in the last 12 hours....that might be a good sign...prayer does work.
2 people like this
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
12 Sep 18
We are far enough from the coast not to be in danger from the storm surge and far enough from the river not to be in danger of flooding. Our main concern is wind knocking a tree over on the house. If the current trend continues, the storm will move further from us rather than closer over the next couple days.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
23 Sep 18
I have many friends in Wilmington that I grew up with. Some stayed to weather the storm and some evacuated. All are safe, but some who left still have not been able to get back because there is, as of now, only 1 land route in and out of the city.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (170199)
• United States
11 Sep 18
We are getting the same unwelcome visit. Needless to say, my welcome mat is not out!
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
11 Sep 18
Sounds like the coast is really in for it. Most hurricanes don't make it all the way up to us. If they do come they're usually downgraded to tropical storms. We haven't really gone through one since Earl and I don't know that it was still a category one when it hit. It did more damage in Newfoundland after going over us. Will pray for those in the path.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95440)
• Marion, Ohio
11 Sep 18
Not in the path of any.
Be keeping you in my thoughts and hoping that it slides by you without any damage.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95440)
• Marion, Ohio
12 Sep 18
@DWDavis Yes we did. Hoping to get some things done outside before we get more from this one. We dont need the rain but they are already predicting about when it will get here.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
11 Sep 18
It's hard to imagine that a storm called Florence could be so destructive. Stay safe.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
11 Sep 18
No not us. Stay safe.
I have one of the 100 watt solar systems too and the last storm here we had no power for 2 days, I made coffee and charged the laptop, phones too. I gave Tony his breathing treatments, that is why I bought it, last winter I had nothing for days when it snowed here.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
11 Sep 18
@DWDavis Yes its smart to have solar.
1 person likes this
@Crazy_money (51)
•
13 Sep 18
This is very frightening I have never been in any storm. Now I'm facing hurricane florence and I pray it doesn't hit us hard pray for us/ N.C
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
13 Sep 18
We've done all we can to be as ready as we can here in NC and SC. Now, we wait and pray. I've been back in NC long enough now to have lived through several storms, from Fran to Floyd to Matthew. My best advice, stay indoors and away from flood waters, and stay alert.
