Wake County under tropical storm warning; Hurricane Dorian to move up NC coast as Category 2 storm

Things to know:

• Wake County and other eastern areas are under a tropical storm warning
• Hurricane Dorian is expected to impact the North Carolina coast as a Category 2 storm
• Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for numerous N.C. island communities, including those in Hyde, Dare, Carteret and New Hanover counties.

A tropical storm warning was issued for several North Carolina counties as Hurricane Dorian is expected to reach the North Carolina coast as a Category 2 storm.

Wake, Cumberland, Edgecombe, Franklin, Halifax, Harnett, Hoke, Johnston, Nash, Sampson, Wayne and Wilson counties were placed under a tropical storm warning at 11 a.m. Wednesday until further notice. That means tropical storm conditions with winds between 39 and 73 mph are expected within 36 hours.

The National Hurricane Center said in its 11 a.m. update that Dorian is expected to remain a Category 2 storm as it moves up the North Carolina coast. Earlier, the center said the storm was expected to weaken to a Category 1 storm along the coast.

Dorian’s track shifted slightly west, and it’s forecast to move over or just west of Cape Lookout 8 a.m. Friday with sustained winds at 100 mph.

By late Wednesday morning, the hurricane was moving parallel to the Florida coast at 9 mph.

“It’s a little slower getting here but then really picks up speed quickly as it moves across the coast of North Carolina,” WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said. “That is the best news that we could hope for.”

By comparison, Hurricane Florence stalled over the North Carolina coast for three days. Storm surge reached 13 feet, and 30 inches of rain fell.

A hurricane warning was in effect for north of the Savannah River in Georgia up to the North Carolina-Virginia border.

A storm surge warning was in effect for north of Port Canaveral, Florida, to the North Carolina-Virginia border, including the Pamlico and Albemarle sounds and the Neuse and Pamlico rivers.

Cape Lookout to Duck could see 4 to 6 feet of storm surge, and water levels could rise before strong winds come, the National Hurricane Center said.

Coastal communities in North Carolina and South Carolina are expected to see 5 to 10 inches of rain, with some areas seeing 15 inches.

The following areas are under evacuation orders:

• Hyde County ordered all visitors off Ocracoke Island as of 5 a.m. Tuesday and residents off the island by 5 a.m. Wednesday. Ferries will waive their fees to get visitors off the island.
• All visitors had to leave Dare County by noon Tuesday. A mandatory evacuation order for all Dare County residents began 6 a.m. Wednesday.
• Carteret County began a voluntary evacuation at 8 a.m. Tuesday, and a mandatory evacuation for coastal communities begins at noon Wednesday.
• New Hanover County beaches are under a mandatory evacuation order as of 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Officials urged people to get to safety before the storm arrives.

“This storm is strong, and it is relentless,” Gov. Roy Cooper said Tuesday afternoon. “We must be ready.”

Some coastal residents said they had prepared to stay in their homes through Dorian.

“You’ve prepared mentally and physically for, how long have we known about Dorian,” one resident said. “So you get all your ducks in a row and just wait and do a lot of praying.”

Davis Beachwear in Atlantic Beach has been open since 1951 and has seen its fair share of hurricanes. On Wednesday morning, the family was boarding up its shop.

The Dare County Sheriff’s Office still people would still be able to access the Outer Banks to secure their property.

Workers at the Sea Foam Motel in Nags Head were readying the building for the storm.

“The occupancy obviously goes down because everybody has to get out of here, try to get ahead of the traffic,” Tracey Zimmerman said. “Hopefully most people will rebook and come back next week.”

In the Triangle area, shelters were opening for evacuees. One in Durham is pet-friendly, and one in Clayton is for people with special medical needs.

The U.S. government granted Cooper’s request for a federal disaster declaration for North Carolina, which will speed federal aid to the state. It will bring more FEMA and military personnel as well as resources for preparation and relief efforts.

Dorian devastated parts of the Bahamas, where seven people died as the storm moved through this week.

Residents called the damage “apocalyptic.”

Airports and roads were flooded as rescues began on the islands.