Hurricane Florence is now expected to slow down and turn south after making a roaring landfall along the East Coast, a forecast that could have dire consequences for South Carolina.
"Latest models show a ridge building over eastern U.S. slowing down Florence near our coast, stalling, then moving into South Carolina."
The slowdown could mean 20 inches of rain or more in some areas, along with an extended period of high winds that could take down trees and power lines.
"The NHC track has been adjusted southward ... and additional southward adjustment may be warranted in future advisories," the National Hurricane Center said Wednesday.
Speaking of the unusual forecast track, which shows a spin to the south along the South Carolina coast, a Weather Channel meteorologist said, "I've never seen anything like this."
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Hurricane Florence track turns south, likely 'storm of a lifetime' for Carolinas
Hashtag that has been posted around the 'net: #NoFlo
FEMA has had an interesting learning curve since their debacle in Louisiana and New Orleans over H. Katrina. Once FEMA was on the ground in New Orleans, after the storm, they took the bit in their teeth, and attempted to assume absolute control. The lesson of 9/11 was still too fresh in the Federal mindset at the time.
FEMA at the very first, demanded that the Governor of Louisiana sign over control of the Louisiana National Guard to them. This did nothing but delay rescue efforts, which the White House blamed on a lack of cooperation on the part of Louisiana.
Federal guards on the perimeter of New Orleans turned away the finest small boatsmen in the world, The Cajun Navy. These are Louisuana Cajuns and others who swarmed East on I-10, with their boats in tow, to assist in New Orleans ,"black water" rescues. This as they always have after devastating storm related flooding. The Feds told The Cajun Navy to leave the boats though, as they had their own people coming in to operate them (from the East Coast and California. You ever had a Water Moccasin try to crawl into your John boat? It only happens in the South!) The Feds later cited a lack of security clearances for the Cajuns, as a reason.
FEMA showed up at the Jefferson Parish (immediately adjacent to Orleans Parish) Emergency Operations Center (JPEOC) and without asking anyone for permission, cut the EOC's leads to their own standing antenna farm and connected them to FEMA's radio trailers. FEMA then told the JPEOC "they no longer needed radios, as FEMA is now here". Armed Jefferson Parish Deputies soon convinced FEMA otherwise.
Also, when the JPEOC (staged at a Hospital) sent a fuel tanker to pick up bought and paid for diesel fuel at a tank farm for the Hospital and Parish emergency electrical generators, the fuel truck was turned away by armed Federal Protective Service Guards (FPS). The Parish was told to submit a written request for fuel to FEMA, and FEMA would then release to the Parish whatever Diesel fuel to the Parish that FEMA deemed necessary. 3 squad cars of JP Deputies armed with their own M-16s, Shotguns and sidearms convinced the FPS Guards otherwise. The JPEOC got its previously (before the storm) contracted Diesel Fuel delivery.
(All of this was documented in The Times-Picayune New Orleans City newspaper, at the time and in the months following the storm. Also I myself was in Jefferson Parish before and after the worst of H. Katrina).
FEMA has learned, and has gotten much better about assisting State Governments in disaster events, and not trying to take control as if a storm ravaged city were the site of a terrorist attack. I hope that FEMA will continue to prudently provide assistance to the States that will be devastated by this H. Katrina strength storm. H. Florence's main destructive force won't be the wind damage, it will come from storm tidal surge and prolonged rain related flooding, as it was with Katrina.
Also, the White House may have to invoke the Federal Posse Comitatus Act, to allow the U.S. Military to actively participate in storm recovery efforts.
After H. Katrina, the U.S. Air Forces Para-rescue Pathfinder Teams played a vital and almost unknown role in reaching (parachuting in at the start) and reopening the runways and control towers at the Louis Armstrong International Airport (in Jefferson Parish), to be used as multi-agency rescue staging and evacuation ops area for both helicopter and fixed wing aircraft and a Military Field Hospital. This Federal Military resoponse saved many, many lives. (This was also documented in the Times-Picayune newspaper.)
The U.S. Military has a vital role, not involving M-16s, providing disaster relief assistance and support after a coastal domestic catastrophe. They have GREAT toys like fleets of Helicopters, and Field Hospitals, and Amphibious Landing Ships with helicopters, and Hospital Ships and the people trained to use all of this, and much, much more to contribute to the rescue effort. MRE anyone?
Let's all hope that the lessons learned from H. Katrina, H. Harvey and Puerto Rico are remembered and heeded as a Federal and State response goes forward. FEMA pre-staging supplies and 100 trailers at Fort Bragg is a good sign of things to come, as is the Army staging 300 helicopters and fuel and water.
We can all only hope for the best. God Bless all in harm's way this week!
