“Life-threatening storm surge and rainfall expected,” the Hurricane Center warned.
A headline on The Weather Channel’s website said the “long siege” had begun.
“Catastrophic flash flooding, high winds to hammer the Carolinas, Appalachia,” The Weather Channel said.
Now a Category 2 hurricane, Florence is expected to make landfall in the Carolinas Thursday night or Friday morning. The Weather Channel said as of Thursday morning, the eye of the hurricane was about 145 miles east-southeast of Wilmington, N.C.
Both the ports of Wilmington and Morehead City were closed Thursday and will remain closed Friday. North Carolina Ports said reopening information will be posted on its website.
The South Carolina Ports Authority posted on its website that the Port of Charleston would be closed to vessel and gate operations Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with Sunday operations possible depending on conditions at the port.
There will be no train or gate operations in Dillon, S.C., until Monday. Georgetown also is expected to reopen Monday.
The Port of Virginia said Thursday that Fifth District Hampton Roads, the main shipping channel, remained closed at the Virginia Capes. Truck gates at all six Port of Virginia cargo terminals were open Thursday.
The port said truck gates will be closed Friday at NIT, PMT, NNMT, VIG and PPCY. Truck gates will be open at the Richmond Marine Terminal and the Virginia Inland Port on Friday.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has declared a state of emergency for the entire state. And FEMA reported that Thursday was the “last good day to evacuate.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s planned public listening session on revising hours of service regulations scheduled for Friday in Washington, D.C., has been canceled because of the severe weather conditions associated with Florence. FMCSA will announce a new date on its website.
Brokerage Compliance Symposium
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
F3 Awards Dinner
The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
F3: Future of Freight Festival
Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowThe night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowIndustry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now