GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) – WNCT 9 On Your Side and First Alert Weather are following the latest on Hurricane Matthew’s track as it moves out of the Caribbean headed toward a possible landfall in Florida.
Evacuate, evacuate, evacuate, that’s the strong message Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia leaders are sending to their citizens ahead of what’s projected to be Hurricane Matthew’s deadly landfall. It comes as President Barack Obama declares a state of emergency for Florida.
Whipping winds and powerful waves along Florida’s coastline are signs of the trouble to come. Matthew is barreling toward the Florida coast as a category four hurricane and it could get even stronger.
Governor Rick Scott insisted the storm isn’t one to take lightly. “If you’re in an evacuation zone, get out,” said Gov. Rick Scott, (R) Florida. “This is not something you should take a chance with.”
By Friday, a powerful storm surge and huge waves are expected to inundate the coast. Hurricane conditions are even expected inland in Orlando where Disney is closing its theme parks. Several airlines have already canceled flights.
At least 2,500 National Guard troops have been called up. They’re preparing supplies and rescue boats.
The storm has already behind left a path of destruction in Haiti and Cuba, flattening homes, flooding streets and knocking out power. So, far Hurricane Matthew is being blamed for at least 25 deaths in the Caribbean.
Late Thursday afternoon, Governor Pat McCrory declared a State of Emergency for all 100 counties in order to provide the necessary assistance to eastern North Carolina and surrounding states as Hurricane Matthew approaches.
“This declaration will allow us to use further resources throughout the state to assist with the storm response here at home and to our neighboring states to the south,” Governor McCrory said. “It will also allow us to better support evacuees heading further inland from impacted areas, including the North Carolina coast.”
McCrory previously declared a state of emergency on Monday for 66 eastern and central counties.
Earlier in the day, he urged North Carolinians and visitors to remain diligent in monitoring Hurricane Matthew and to continue preparations in the coming days as the storm’s track remains unpredictable.
“I am cautiously optimistic about Hurricane Matthew’s projected impacts on North Carolina compared to where we were a few days ago,” said McCrory. “But there remains much uncertainty about the long-term storm track. Even if Matthew doesn’t make landfall in our state, this is a very large and powerful storm and we expect its impacts to be felt far away from the eye.”
Although storm track models predict the storm will trend further east and south over the weekend, recent significant changes in forecast models has led to lower confidence in the storm track beyond 72 hours.
“We’re not out of the woods yet,” McCrory said. “I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for all North Carolinians and visitors to be sure they are prepared and continue to monitor this storm. Review your emergency plans with your family and update or restock supplies in your emergency kits.”
The governor’s office said that Department of Transportation crews are ready to clear roads of any storm-related debris, and North Carolina Emergency Management’s Helo-Aquatic and Swift Water rescue teams are on standby.
For more information on what to do before, during and after a storm, visit www.ReadyNC.org.
McCrory has directed the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Ferry Division to move several of its ships out of harm’s way as Hurricane Matthew moves closer to the southeastern coast. This will require alternate schedules on several ferry routes:
Southport-Fort Fisher:
The M/V Fort Fisher is being moved to safe harbor in Cherry Branch. The route will begin a one-boat schedule effective immediately:
From Southport (Weekdays): 7:45 a.m., 9:15, 10:45, 12:15 p.m., 1:45, 3:15, 4:45, 6:15.
From Fort Fisher (Weekdays): 8:30 a.m., 10, 11:30, 1 p.m., 2:30, 4, 5:30, 7.
From Southport (Weekends): 9:15 a.m., 10:45, 12:15 p.m., 1:45, 3:15, 4:45, 6:15.
From Fort Fisher (Weekends): 10 a.m., 11:30, 1 p.m., 2:30, 4, 5:30, 7.
Hatteras-Ocracoke:
Ocracoke Island remains under a mandatory evacuation order for visitors. Only residents, property owners, vendors, and critical infrastructure providers with proper documentation will be allowed access to Ocracoke Island. So far, ferries have evacuated more than 1,100 people from Ocracoke.
On Thursday and Friday, the ferry division will move several of its Hatteras ferries to safe harbor in Manns Harbor and Cherry Branch. As of Friday, Oct. 7, the Hatteras-Ocracoke route will run a limited schedule:
From Hatteras: 5 a.m., 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, noon, 1 p.m., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, midnight.
From Ocracoke: 4:30 a.m., 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 12:30 p.m., 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, 5:30, 6:30, 7:30, 9:30, 10:30, 12:30 a.m.
Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach:
This route is currently not operating due to high water levels on the Neuse River.
All other routes will run their regular schedules as long as weather conditions permit.
For real-time updates on schedule changes, follow the North Carolina Ferry System on Twitter at @NCDOT_Ferry.
Hyde County officials suspended the mandatory evacuation order issued for residents and non-resident property owners on Ocracoke Island Wednesday night. Residents and non-resident property owners, vendors and critical infrastructure providers will be permitted to travel to and from the island until ferry service is suspended Friday.
An evacuation for visitors on Ocracoke Island remains in effect. Hundreds of people evacuated Ocracoke Island Wednesday as preparations continued for Hurricane Matthew. The Swan Quarter Ferry ran at or near full capacity for most of the day. The ferry can hold 45 to 50 vehicles. Officials say the ferry Becker traveled on transported 47 vehicles to the mainland.
A mandatory evacuation has also been ordered for the Cape Lookout National Seashore.
Surf City has declared a state of emergency and approved voluntary evacuation beginning Friday 9 a.m. as a protective measure for residents who are concerned their homes may be particularly susceptible to flooding. There are no specific restrictions tied to the city’s declaration.
The storm is also forcing local VA Clinics to close. The Jacksonville Community-Based Outpatient Clinic will close at 4:30 Thursday afternoon. The Wilmington Health Care Clinic and Brunswick County Outreach Clinic will also close at the same time.
Stay updated on Matthew’s track, download our First Alert Weather app. You can find out the forecast for your exact location. It’s available for free in the APPLE app store and on Google Play.