Hurricane Florence wreaks havoc

By KERRI SHUTIKA

With Hurricane Hunters observing 75 mph winds on September 9, hurricane Florence had rapidly increased into a category 4 storm. After crashing into the Carolinas, South Carolina authorities ordered evacuations to begin this past  Monday, September 24 as the flood has reached a record height of up to 10 feet floodwaters this week.

In North Carolina, five river gauges were still at major flood stage and five others were at moderate flood stage, according to National Weather Service.  Parts of interstate 95 were also expected to be underwater for days, but the North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced that the highway was being reopened, due to flood waters retreating faster than expected.

Hurricane Florence could be the costliest storm ever to hit the U.S. Hurricane Florence could cost the East Coast more than $170 billion. Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which costed the U.S. $161 billion in losses, was beat by this years Hurricane Florence, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The second-largest storm on record was last year’s Hurricane Harvey, which destroyed Houston and other parts of Texas which cost an estimated $125 billion. While Florence threatened to do enormous financial damage, it’s unlikely to be the deadliest.”Hurricane of 1900,” which came ashore in Galveston, Texas, still holds that record, having taken between 8,000 and 12,000 lives. In this century, Hurricane Katrina is responsible for 1,400 deaths, while Hurricane Maria in 2017 is thought to have killed nearly 3,000.

Many charities and organizations have taken to helping out victims from Hurricane Florence. Corporations such as The American Red Cross, World Hope International, Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, World Relief, and One SC Fund, have been and still are taking donations to give to the families and friends impacted by Hurricane Florence. People are encouraged to donate if wanting to help.