Charlotte North Carolina News

CHARLOTTE, NC (FOX 46 WJZY/AP) – WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — The Latest on Hurricane Florence (all times local): 5:00 a.m. The National Hurricane Center says Florence is about to make landfall in North Carolina bringing with it life-threatening storm surges and hurricane force winds.  As of 5 a.m., Florence was 25 miles (55 kilometers) east of Wilmington, North Carolina. Its forward movement was 6 mph (9 kph). Hurricane-force winds extended 90 miles (150 kilometers) from…

Ten years ago, the Doral Apartments and the Cavalier Apartments in east Charlotte were flooded by Tropical Storm Fay – and some residents had to be dramatically rescued by boat. Residents of the Doral Apartments describe their Hurricane Florence preparations Now, Doral residents — most of them newcomers — are preparing for floodwater from Hurricane Florence. Some first-floor residents of the complex off Monroe Road moved valuables to countertops. Some people had placed sand bags…

CHARLOTTE, NC (FOX 46 WJZY) – As people evacuate from the NC coast, animals are too.  Families and rescue groups are bringing their animals with them as they flee to safer locations ahead of Hurricane Florence. Carolina Waterfowl Rescue, a non-profit animal group that takes in wildlife, is receiving car and truck loads of animals looking for a temporary place to stay.  As of Thursday night, the facility had received 70 animals. “Sometimes it’s easier to get…

CHARLOTTE, NC (FOX 46 WJZY) – Duke Energy says it has the largest force they’ve ever had in place right now to respond to the storm.20,000 workers are on standby now, many from other states, ready to help get the lights back on. “Help has arrived, help is here,” said lineman Abel Hernandez from Florida Power and Light. He drove up from Miami to help Duke Energy crews ahead of Hurricane Florence.  He says being…

YORK COUNTY, SC (FOX 46 WJZY) – A week of preparation has led to this. “We got fuel in our cars and we’re ready to go. Cash on hand, and the lasts thing we’ll do is fill the bathtub with water in case we lose power,” said Jennifer Douglass who lives near the Catawba River’s bank. Officials relayed their final messages to York County residents. They say don’t go into flood waters, and don’t be…

WILMINGTON, NC (FOX 46 WJZY) – Downtown Wilmington is clearing out as Hurricane Florence has begun to batter the coast with high winds, heavy rain, storm surge and flooding.  Most businesses are now closed, but a few locals are sticking around, ready to weather the storm.  “Then you’re sitting here and it’s like it’s a lot of hurry up and wait so we figure we’d hurry up and wait here at the local Irish Pub,”…

WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — The big slosh has begun, and the consequences could be disastrous. Hurricane Florence’s leading edge battered the Carolina coast Thursday, bending trees and shooting frothy sea water over streets on the Outer Banks, as the hulking storm closed in with 100 mph (155 kph) winds for a drenching siege that could last all weekend. Tens of thousands were without power. Winds and rain were arriving later in South Carolina, and a…

This story was updated at 9:07 p.m. Eastern. Hurricane-force winds are approaching North Carolina as Category 2 Florence reaches the coast. The National Hurricane Center said sustained hurricane-force winds were hitting Cape Lookout as of 9 p.m. Thursday, and that hurricane conditions are spreading. The center of Florence — now 300 miles wide — will move over southern North Carolina later today, and is expected to make “a slow motion over eastern South Carolina” Friday…

This story was updated at 8 p.m. Eastern. Hurricane Florence is starting to make its presence known in the Carolinas, but for now, Waffle House’s hash browns are mostly still sizzling and its eggs are still cracking. The restaurant chain, famous for staying open even through major disasters, seems to have kept the majority of its restaurants in operation as the storm approaches. However, at least a few reported closings throughout the Carolinas suggest Waffle…

Immigrants in North Carolina and South Carolina shouldn’t worry about being arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as they evacuate their homes or at the emergency shelters, an ICE spokesperson said Wednesday. Bryan Cox, spokesperson for ICE in the southern region, said everyone should follow local evacuation orders during Hurricane Florence. “Our highest priority remains the preservation of life and safety,” Cox said in an email. “In consideration of these circumstances, there will be…

As the city of Charlotte is bracing for Florence, the State and City Departments of Transportation are clearing up storm drains and preparing roads.  Extended rainfall and strong winds could mean disaster for state highways and local roads, N.C. Department of Transportation’s  Jen Thompson said. “The potential could be there for roads to flood,” Thompson said. “The potential is there for trees to fall across the roads, as well.” The Charlotte Department of Transportation regularly…

This isn’t my first ride through a hurricane. I’m going to be fine. It’s this kitten that adopted me several weeks ago that I’m worried about. My neighbor moved to New Orleans a couple of months ago and left it behind. The poor baby doesn’t appear to have a feral bone in its body. Confused by the abandonment, my neighbor and I both tried to ignore the thing’s pitiful cries for food and comfort outside…

Here’s where to go for help during Hurricane Florence: ▪ To report a power outage or a power line problem, call Duke Energy at 800-POWER-ON (800-419-6356). Espanol: 866-4APAGON ▪ To request help from the fire department, police or MEDIC, dial 911. Also call 911 if you find a tree or limb blocking a street. ▪ If you smell natural gas or have a natural gas emergency, call Piedmont Natural Gas at 800-752-7504. ▪ To call…