DC Declares State of Emergency Over Hurricane Florence

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser on Sept. 11 declared a state of emergency for the area ahead of Hurricane Florence.

It comes as Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina all declared states of emergency ahead of the storm.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that Florence is a Category 4 storm with 130 mph winds, moving west-northwest. Forecasters expect the storm to hit North and South Carolina, but the storm’s effects will be felt across the mid-Atlantic region.

The D.C. area is expected to experience heavy rain and flooding over the weekend.

The state of emergency in Washington goes into effect immediately, said Bowser, according to NBC Washington. Bowser urged residents to prepare everything they need for the storm.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam ordered about 245,000 residents in the lowest-lying areas near the coast, which includes the Eastern Shore and Hampton Roads, to evacuate, The Associated Press reported. That evacuation order went into effect on Sept. 11 at 8 a.m.

“This is a serious storm and it’s going to affect the entire state of Virginia,” Northam said, reported NBC Washington.

“Interests elsewhere in the southeastern and mid-Atlantic states should monitor the progress of Florence. Additional watches may be required later today,” the NHC said in an update on Sept. 11.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Florence has maximum sustained winds near 130 mph. By 11 a.m. Tuesday, Florence was centered about 905 miles east-southeast of Cape Fear, North Carolina, and moving west-northwest at 16 mph. Its center will move between Bermuda and the Bahamas on Tuesday and Wednesday, then approach the coast of South Carolina or North Carolina, according to AP.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.