Hurricane Florence continues to move westward and is now a powerful CAT 4 hurricane. 

The potential for a catastrophic land impact is HIGH. The waters along the coast are very warm, which translates into the making of a powerful storm.

If you are located on the East coast in SC, NC or VA, NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPARE

In a disaster situation, you want to be a spectator, not a participant.

If you are a participant, you will either be a victim, or a survivor with an unpleasant story to tell.

Avoid being one of those individuals appearing on national news with matted hair and dirty clothes crying, "Where is FEMA?"

PREPAREDNESS CONSIDERATIONS:

The key categories you should consider are as follows:

• Food and Water
  
• First Aid 
  
• Medications
  
• Power Needs
  
• Tools and Supplies
  
• Special Requirements (Baby, Elderly, Pets)
  
• Important Documents
  
• Cash
  
• Fuel
  

For several of these categories, you have two basic choices: Try to buy locally or shop online. For the later, Amazon is an excellent option and there is still time for orders to be delivered, particularly with Prime service or overnight shipping.

At the link below, press the play button to view an animation of the movement of Florence over the next few days as predicted by NOAA's Global Forecast System (GFS) model.

http://www.myfoxhurricane.com/gfs.html

https://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/find-an-open-shelter.html

DHS / FEMA

https://www.fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers

https://www.disasterassistance.gov/

FEMA Mobile App

FEMA has made available a free mobile app for Apple and Android devices with tools and tips to keep you safe before, during, and after disasters, including the location of shelters. The app is available for Apple devices via the iTunes store and Android devices via the Google Play Store.

Info via SMS

To search for open shelters: text SHELTER and a Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA) .

To search for open Disaster Recovery Centers, text: DRC and a Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA) .