Hurricane Florence is expected to deal a “Mike Tyson punch” to the coastal communities of North Carolina and South Carolina, a Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesperson told reporters Wednesday.
“It’s a very dangerous storm – heed the warnings and evacuate if you are in one of those zones. Today is the day,” Jeff Byard, associate administrator for the Office of Response and Recovery at FEMA, said in a press call. “This is going to be a Mike Tyson punch to the Carolina coast,” he added referring to the former professional boxer Mike Tyson.
[Katrina commander: ‘I would not bet any money’ that the feds are prepared for Hurricane Florence]
The storm is 530 miles southeast of North Carolina’s Cape Fear and has sustained maximum wind gusts of 130 miles per hour. Storm surges could reach up to 13 feet by the shore. Areas impacted by the center of Florence at the end of the week, including Wilmington, N.C., may see 40 inches of rain.
The National Hurricane Center’s FEMA liaison Steve Goldstein said they believe the storm — bigger in size than the state of Michigan — may stall once it hits the Carolinas.
As a result, coastal communities may face hurricane-strength winds for 24 hours or more after Florence makes landfall. The storm may then move south towards the Georgia coast.
“Florence is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Strengthening is forecast through tonight,” the National Hurricane Center said Wednesday. “While some weakening is expected on Thursday, Florence is forecast to be an extremely dangerous major hurricane when it nears the U.S. coast.”
FEMA said Wednesday it has “well over $20 billion” in its Disaster Relief Fund.
