Virginians should stocks 3 days of supplies: Gov. McAuliffe.
By Raif Karerat
Hurricane Joaquin was upgraded to an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm Thursday afternoon, even as the East Coast was already preparing for potentially historic rainfall and flooding from another storm front.
Virginia, North Carolina and New Jersey were the latest states to declare emergencies, warning residents that the severe weather already predicted could be significantly worse if Joaquin imposes northwestward. The hurricane was thrusting 130 mph winds as it slammed into the central Bahamas, according to NBC News.
“I cannot stress enough the imperative for Virginians to focus on the rainstorms that are headed our way [Thursday] and Friday, well before Hurricane Joaquin could potentially impact Virginia,” said Gov. Terry McAuliffe. “The forecast of up to 10 inches of rain in areas across Virginia could result in floods, power outages and a serious threat to life and property.”
Accuweather reported any inland flooding in northern Virginia will be limited to urban areas and along small streams. The same goes for New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland.
The Richmond-Times Dispatch reported that Hurricane Joaquin could miss Virginia altogether, but the storm system that has heralded Joaquin’s possible arrival still threatens to cause serious trouble.
McAuliffe said Wednesday, said Virginians should have at least three days’ worth of supplies in their homes and avoid travel if possible.
“We don’t want people to drop their guard on this,” said Jeff Orrock, a weather service meteorologist in Wakefield, to The Dispatch. “The danger of having a worst-case scenario is not zero,” but it has decreased.
There could be a break in the rain Saturday, then perhaps a small amount could fall Sunday and Monday, forecasters said.
Winds could gust up to about 30 mph in the Richmond area Sunday night and Monday and perhaps up to 40 mph along the coast, the weather service said. Joaquin could contribute to those winds but would not be the sole cause of the tumultuous gusts.