Americans in the path of Hurricane Florence are preparing for the storm by boarding up houses and local businesses, but not without giving “Flo” a piece of their minds.
As of 11 a.m. ET Wednesday, Florence is a potentially catastrophic Category 4 storm, centred 785 kilometres southeast of Wilmington, North Carolina, moving at 2.4 km/h. Wind speeds currently sit at 215 km/h.
In addition, buckling down to prepare for the coming landfall, those threatened by the storm are posting messages of solidarity, good humour, and pleas for prayers on boarded-up buildings.
“Go Away Flo” appears to be the most popular phrase being plastered across wooden boards from South Carolina to Virginia.
Many, however, didn’t lose their sense of humour amid the panic.
“Grab Beer – run like hell. Go home Flo,” is written in black spray paint across several boards covering store windows in Wrightsville Beach, N.C.
Evacuation orders have been issued for North and South Carolina as well as Virginia. Over one million people along the coastline have been ordered to evacuate.
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Hurricane Florence: North Carolina residents remove trees in preparation for storm -
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Hurricane Florence: U.S. Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter flies into storm -
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Hurricane Florence: North Carolina highway clogged as police escort evacuees in South Carolina -
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Hurricane Florence: Maryland firefighters depart for South Carolina -
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Hurricane Florence: North Carolina residents bracing for a ‘direct hit’ -
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Hurricane Florence: Trajectory of storm changes -
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Storm chasers warn of ‘catastrophic damage’ with Hurricane Florence -
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Hurricane Florence from the International Space Station
Schools and factories have been shut down, and many businesses are temporarily shutting their doors.
However, evacuating has proven difficult for those who live in Florence’s path. Airlines have cancelled most flights and gas for vehicles is hard to come by.
Many have also taken to posting their messages on social media.
Christine Lyons posted a photo of her nine-year-old daughter Bella’s contribution, who wanted to help even though she is sick with pneumonia. CNN reports that the sign, drawn with a dozen different colours of marker, currently hangs on the front door of their family home.
“The kiddo is out of commission with pneumonia. So her help during our hurricane preparation is limited. This was her contribution,” the post read.
Florence is currently the most dangerous of three tropical storms in the Atlantic. Tropical storm Isaac was expected to pass south of Puerto Rico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Cuba, while Hurricane Helene was moving north, away from land. Forecasters warn that the coastal surge from Florence could leave the eastern tip of North Carolina under almost three metres of water in some spots.
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FEMA leader talks preparation for Hurricane Florence -
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Charleston mayor: ‘strong’ community can weather Hurricane Florence -
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FEMA: Today is the last good day to evacuate from Hurricane Florence -
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North Carolina governor on Hurricane Florence: This one’s different -
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Hurricane Florence ‘as big as they’ve seen’: Trump -
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Millions told to evacuate as Hurricane Florence gains strength in Atlantic -
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North Carolinians brace for arrival of hurricane Florence -
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Satellite images show Hurricane Florence as it nears U.S. coast
The hurricane is expected to strengthen through Wednesday night and approach the coast of North or South Carolina on either Thursday or Friday, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) in its latest advisory.
–With files from the Canadian Press.
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