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Wednesday, 12 September 2018 10:28

Despite Florence's southward shift, local impacts still expected

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Despite a southward shift of Hurricane Florence, the National Weather Service says prolonged rain and freshwater flooding is still expected across much of the area.

The NWS said in its morning briefing dangerous winds will result in widespread downed trees which will likely culminate in prolonged power outages.

“Residents of central North Carolina should be prepared for an interruption of their daily life activities Thursday night through the weekend,” the NWS said in its three key points to the storm.

The NWS said slower arrival trends continue with the storm and a southward track may limit impacts across the northwest Piedmont at the onset of the storm.

Flash-flooding is expected to be extreme across the Sandhills and Coastal Plain as is river flooding.

Wind risks across Central North Carolina are elevated and power outages are expected to be significant.

Timing of the storm is expected to begin late Thursday afternoon and persist into the weekend. Flash-flooding is expected to begin Thursday and persist through the weekend.

River flooding is expected over the weekend and into early next week. Power outages are likely throughout all of Central North Carolina Thursday and through much of the weekend.

Shelters are scheduled for opening in both Halifax and Northampton counties.

The city of Roanoke Rapids will hold a briefing on the storm at noon today.

Updated closings

District court in Bertie and Hertford counties has been cancelled for today, Thursday and Friday. Criminal and civil courts for Halifax and Northampton counties are closed Thursday and Friday.

Cornerstone Christian will close at noon today and will be closed Thursday and Friday.

The doors of the post offices in Roanoke Rapids, Gaston and Garysburg will be closed when the window areas are closed and open when the window areas are open.

This DMV office at Highway 125 and Three Bridges Road in Roanoke Rapids will close at noon today and will remain closed until further notice.

Weldon Elementary Global Academy will close at 11:30 a.m. today.

Weldon Middle School will close at 12:30 p.m. today.

Weldon High School will close at 12:15 p.m. today.

Roanoke Valley Early College will close at noon today.

Roanoke Rapids Graded Schools will close two hours early today and remain closed Thursday. A decision on Friday operations will be forthcoming.

Halifax Community College will close at 1 p.m. today and remain closed Thursday and Friday. The college expects to reopen Monday.

Halifax County schools will close Thursday and Friday.

Update from New Dixie Oil

Scott Aman, president of New Dixie Oil, said in a statement as of this morning, “demand has been very, very high at retail sites as well as with the commercial customers we serve that are preparing for aid.  

“We are experiencing many product outages at many sites that mostly started late yesterday and early this morning.  We have all fuel transport drivers working as long as possible while being safe.”

Gas and diesel are on the way, he said.  “Please remain patient. We are experiencing nightly supplier increase in our product costs that will continue to be passed to the street and customer.  Please know that our primary focus is do all we can to get as much gas and fuel as we possibly can each day to serve our communities and customers. Please know that we will do all possible to keep supply, especially for local law, fire and rescue.”

Read 6429 times Last modified on Wednesday, 12 September 2018 10:32