Hermine’s maximum sustained winds Thursday afternoon were near 70 miles per hour (113 kph).
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The storm is expected to dump up to a foot of rain in some areas and bring wind gusts up to 75 miles per hour and localized flooding into Friday.
Mitchell Pate, Emergency Services director for the city of Lumberton, said his department is monitoring National Weather Service briefings on the storm.
The declaration comes as the state braces for Tropical Storm Hermine, which is likely to reach hurricane strength by the time it makes landfall later today.
Like with all storms, flooding is a concern, especially in Daytona Beach where many areas in the Black community flood easily.
A few tornadoes are also possible this afternoon into Friday morning over north Florida and southeast Georgia, and the tornado risk will continue across the eastern Carolinas from Friday morning.
McCrory issued the declaration Thursday after meeting with state emergency personnel. “We are working to ensure counties in south, central and coastal Georgia have access to the state resources necessary to prepare and respond when Tropical Storm Hermine enters Georgia”.
The weekend’s weather will be determined by the track of Hurricane Hermine, causing possible showers on Sunday and Monday. The center of the storm is expected to be near the Florida coast by early Friday.
The hurricane center has extended a tropical storm warning to include the Outer Banks of North Carolina. “We have no place to go right now, trying to figure it out”, said Dorman.
Residents should stay tuned for weather updates through weather alert radios, local media outlets, the county website (www.pinellascounty.org) and county social media accounts; they are also urged to sign up for Alert Pinellas at www.pinellascounty.org/alertpinellas to receive emergency notifications by phone or text message.
Maui County and Hawaii County are under hurricane watch as Category 2 Lester careens toward the islands. Once the storm is off shore in the Atlantic, there could be continued strong winds and periods of heavy rain from trailing outer bands, which can continue into Saturday. Hermine is forecast to become a hurricane before making landfall on Friday. The Tallahassee Democrat (http://on.tdo.com/2c2jFxe ) reported that emergency management officials in Franklin County have issued a mandatory evacuation notice for people living on St. George Island, Dog Island, Alligator Point and Bald Point. Residents in other low-lying areas prone to flooding area also being asked to evacuate.
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The warning covers an area that extends from Marineland, Florida, northward to the South Santee River in SC.
