Hurricane Tips Archives - Charleston FYI

Featured Image: The Atlantic

Charleston geared up for Hurricane Dorian this week, luckily much of the Holy City was left largely unharmed despite the hundreds of thousands of power outages. Sadly, the northern Bahamas were not as lucky and suffered the largest impact from the hurricane as the storm was at a category 5 level when it struck the islands. The official death toll is 43 and continues to rise as rescue workers reach more areas. The United Nations believe almost 70,000 are left homeless on Abaca and Grand Bahamas, the areas which took the grunt of the impact, due to the damage. Follow CNN’s live updates here.

Northeast South Carolina and North Carolina were impacted as well as flooding and tornadoes have hit the region. Outer Banks residents’ homes flooded, leaving hundreds trapped by high water. Ocracoke Island, in the Outer Banks, suffered catastrophic flooding, described by residents as levels they had never seen. The island is only accessible by boat and air, but Governor Roy Cooper said medical and search and rescue teams were on the way. Here are just a few of the ways you can donate and help the Bahamas as well as the impacted communities in the Carolinas:

The Bahamas Disaster Relief Fund, set up by the Bahamian government, is accepting wire transfers. Find instructions here.
The American Red Cross is accepting donations by phone (800-435-7669) or online.
The Salvation Army is accepting money for relief both in the Bahamas and here in the United States
The Grand Bahama Disaster Relief Foundation, established by the Grand Bahama Port Authority, is accepting donations and supplies.

Find more organizations working to aid in the rescue work in the Bahamas and the United States, accepting donations here.

The Charleston region was impacted by the hurricane as well with trees, powerlines and even traffic lights downed across the Lowcountry. Take a look at some pictures of the impacts the storm left on Charleston:

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Praying for #Charleston! ? (?s by @tonybartelme and @bymatthewfortner | The Post and Courier)

A post shared by AHA Lowcountry (@lowcountryaha) on Sep 5, 2019 at 7:09am PDT

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Broken trees in Charleston and Summerville. If you see any damage from Hurricane Dorian, make sure to share it with us on our Chime In page on abcnews4.com! Photos taken by our very own Caroline Balchunas and Brooke Schwieters.

A post shared by ABC News 4 | WCIV (@abcnews4) on Sep 5, 2019 at 4:57am PDT

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This is why we can’t stress enough how dangerous it is to be outside right now. Check out this video our @robwaytv caught on Market Street. . . . #live5news #live5dorian #live5insider #charleston #charlestonsc #chs #chswx #hurricanedorian #hurricane #lowcountry

A post shared by Live 5 WCSC (@live5news) on Sep 5, 2019 at 9:24am PDT

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We’re sharing your storm photos with the Lowcountry. Head to counton2.com and upload your photos to our gallery. … … … … #Charleston #HurricaneDorian #Lowcountry #Summerville #mountpleasantsc

A post shared by Count on 2 (@wcbdnews2) on Sep 5, 2019 at 4:53pm PDT

Featured Image: Jack Gruber, USA TODAY.

Bigger than South Carolina and North Carolina combined, Hurricane Florence is about to make quite the impression. Florence, now downgraded to a category 2 storm with winds of 110 mph, is still a real threat to our coastline especially when it comes to rainfall, storm surge, and flooding. Even though it is now expected to shift south to make landfall just below Myrtle Beach on Saturday, it’s exact direction is still somewhat unknown. With comparisons to devastating Hugo of 1989, the only thing certain about a cone of uncertainty like this, is that the best thing to do is be prepared for any and every outcome.

Check out these quick tips for surviving Hurricane Florence:

1. Create a plan and execute it.

Pack an emergency kit, including money, medication, and a few days worth of food and water. Also, get gas before leaving! Many gas stations are beginning to run out of gas. To see what gas stations you can fuel up at, check out Gasbuddy. If your house floods, you can’t return home immediately, so it is essential to have a plan, especially if you live in a flood zone. Not sure if you live in a flood zone? Get informed here.

2. Bring all valuables with you during evacuation. If you stay, keep them safe!

It is highly recommended that you photograph or scan important documents, such as driver’s license, passports, social security cards, prescriptions, and all other legal documents. You can upload them to a hard drive, take them with you when evacuating, or store them in a fireproof, watertight container. Keep this, and other important belongings, with you or in a place with higher elevation.

3. Stock up on plenty of bottled water and non-perishable food.

It is also recommended that you freeze all cold products in case you lose power. This will allow your cold products to remain cool for a longer period of time. In case of lost power, a tightly packed freezer can stay cold for 48 hours. Non perishable foods will be your best option, in case you lose power for many days. Keep these items, and water, stored on high, secure shelves so they will be safe away from flooding. Along with food and water, be sure to safely store your household chemicals. When they mix with floodwaters, they become dangerous to your health and can cause fires and explosions.

4. Secure your doors and window.

Board up your windows to prevent leaks and broken glass, and if necessary secure your doors as well. If you do not board up your windows, to prevent damage, clean up yard debris! Safely dispose of branches, secure rain gutters, and clear your yard of bikes, trash cans, and outdoor furniture.