While Florida did not bare the brunt of the storm -- it was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm as it glided off the eastern coast -- many counties and cities in the Sunshine state prepared to face a possible storm during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Now coastal communities in the Carolinas could be in the track of the storm, with life threatening storm surge of 2 to 4 feet above ground level possible from Edisto Beach, South Carolina to Cape Fear, North Carolina, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Evacuations ordered for coastal communities
Isaias is expected to be "near hurricane strength when it reaches the Carolinas" late Monday, the latest alert from the National Hurricane Center said, noting that "there is little difference between a strong tropical storm or a category 1 hurricane, in terms of impacts."
The Outer Banks communities of Ocracoke Island, which took a direct hit from Hurricane Florence in 2018, and Hatteras Island issued mandatory evacuations on Friday for all visitors and residents ahead of the anticipated storm that could bring flooding to waterfront and adjacent properties, making roadways in the area unpassable.
Visitors were ordered to evacuate Ocean Isle and Holden Beach by Saturday, officials said.
Inland, the Nuese and Cape Fear rivers are expected to rise above moderate flooding level, the North Carolina Emergency Management Department tweeted Sunday.
High winds of up to 70 mph are expected and could bring down power lines and trees. Tornadoes are also possible in both North and South Carolina, each state's emergency management department said.
A surge warning is in place for Charleston and Colleton counties, including downtown Charleston, which could also see 2-4 feet of ocean water.
On Friday, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced that he would not be issuing a mandatory evacuation, but that residents should continue to monitor the weather situation.
"Right now we're hoping this storm will not hit us hard if it hits at all," McMaster said. "At this time we have no intention at all of declaring any sort of evacuation."
South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) Director Kim Stenson said his department will be implementing their new emergency response plan for a Covid environment which includes screening for the virus, providing personal protective equipment, as well as creating social distancing and isolation areas in shelters.
SCEMD will screen people before they get on buses for transport to shelters and will be having less people on buses, requiring more trips, he said.
The shelters are for those who are in homes that may not withstand tropical storm force winds, Stenson added.
Utilities prepare as storm moves north through the week
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect from Delaware as far north as Rhode Island as the storm is on track to move up the coast after it hits the Carolinas late Monday.
The mid-Atlantic states should see effects of the storm
