One person has been killed and three are missing after Tropical Storm Isaias smashed into the Carolinas as a hurricane overnight with 85mph winds, flooding and tornadoes before barreling up the East Coast toward New York City where it’s expected to be the strongest storm since Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
A tornado is believed to have passed through the Cedar Landing community of Bertie County overnight, according to officials.
Local officials said that 20 people were taken to a local hospital and three are still missing after the tornado hit the mobile home park overnight. Search crews recovered the body of one deceased person but are still looking for the three who are missing.
In other parts of North Carolina, terrifying footage showed parking lots and roads flooded with water as wind and rain lashed homes when the hurricane hit at 11pm Monday night.
In Oak Island, North Carolina, nine people and their dog were rescued from the area by Brunswick Sheriff. ‘Four adults, five beautiful children and an adorable Basset Hound rescued on Oak Island,’ a Facebook post from the sheriff’s office said. ‘Safely loaded in our MRAP (an armored tactical vehicle) and taken to safety!’
Just 15 miles down the coast, five homes on Ocean Isle Beach were ripped apart by ferocious infernos caused by the hurricane. And 80 miles north in Surf City, 30 people rushed out of a burning apartment complex.
In North Carolina, at least 124,000 power outages were reported in the Wilmington area the encompasses both Brunswick and New Hanover Counties
The storm now has maximum sustained winds of 70 miles per hour and has been downgraded down to a tropical storm. By 6am Tuesday, the storm had moved into Virginia. The center moved into southeastern Virginia around daybreak.
A tropical storm warning extended all the way up to Maine, where flash flooding was possible in some areas on Wednesday. Forecasters also warned of possible tornadoes in North Carolina early Tuesday, and from eastern Virginia to southern New England later Tuesday.
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One person has been killed and three are missing after Tropical Storm Isaias smashed into the Carolinas (damage pictured in Bertie County, North Carolina) as a hurricane overnight with 85mph winds, flooding and tornadoes
A tornado is believed to have passed through the Cedar Landing community (pictured) of Bertie County overnight, according to officials
Local officials said that 20 people were taken to a local hospital and three are still missing after the tornado hit the mobile home park overnight
Search crews recovered the body of one deceased person but are still looking for the three who are missing
It will continue to head up the coast of mid-Atlantic states and across the northeastern US later into the evening.
Preparations for the storm’s arrival have been underway in major cities along the East Coast, including New York, where officials say Isaias packs the strongest punch since Superstorm Sandy from 2012.
The storm could continue to bring down trees and cause power outages as it moves north along the mid-Atlantic and New England coastline, Robbie Berg, a hurricane specialist with the National Hurricane Center said.
‘We don’t think there is going to be a whole lot of weakening, we still think there’s going to be very strong and gusty winds that will affect much of the mid-atlantic and the Northeast over the next day or two,’ Berg said. Rainfall will continue to be a big issue, he added.
The US National Hurricane Center warned oceanside home dwellers to brace for storm surge up to 5 feet and up to 8 inches of rain in spots, as Isaias moved up the coast.
‘All those rains could produce flash flooding across portions of the eastern Carolinas and mid-Atlantic, and even in the northeast US,’ said Daniel Brown, senior hurricane specialist at the US National Hurricane Center.
In other parts of North Carolina, photos showed damage to buildings, marinas and businesses after wind and rain lashed areas like Southport, NC (pictured) when the hurricane hit at 11pm Monday night
Royce Potter, a fifth generation seafood fisherman, surveys the damage to his business, Potter’s Seafood Market, after Hurricane Isaias hit Southport, NC, overnight
Boats are piled on each other at the Southport Marina following the impact of Isaias after it hit the area as a Category 1 hurricane Monday night
Residents survey the damage following the effects of Hurricane Isaias in Southport, NC, on Tuesday
Tropical Storm Isaias spawned tornadoes and dumped rain during an inland march up the East Coast, including New Jersey, on Tuesday after making landfall as a hurricane in North Carolina. A boat was overturned by storms in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Five homes on Ocean Isle Beach in North Carolina were ripped apart by ferocious infernos caused by the hurricane
Fires burning inside homes on Ocean Isle Beach in North Carolina last night as Hurricane Isaias made landfall
Nine people and their dog were rescued from Oak Island by Brunswick Sheriff. ‘Four adults, five beautiful children and an adorable Basset Hound rescued on Oak Island,’ a Facebook post from the sheriff’s office said. ‘Safely loaded in our MRAP (an armored tactical vehicle) and taken to safety!’
The family and their Basset Hound rescued by Brunswick Sheriff’s office last night from Oak Island, North Carolina
Storm surge covered the area as Hurricane Isaias made landfall near North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Sunday
Debris covers the sidewalk in Southport, N.C. as hurricane Isaias moved through North Carolina early Tuesday
People walk through flood-hit Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, late on Monday after Hurricane Isaias made landfall
A man uses his phone to record video of floodwaters on Ocean Blvd. The hurricane made landfall in nearby North Carolina, generating sustained wind gusts of 85mph
A group of people are seen above walking along a flooded roadway in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, late on Monday
A car is driven along water-covered Sea Mountain Highway in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, late on Monday night
Isaias was upgraded again from a tropical storm to a Category 1 hurricane Monday evening. Early Tuesday the storm, downgraded again, was centered about 25 miles northwest of Greenville, North Carolina.
It was moving quickly north northeast over eastern North Carolina at 26mph and this general motion accompanied by an increase in forward speed is expected through Tuesday.
Maryland Gov Larry Hogan said Monday that the state will be suspending its COVID-19 testing on Tuesday due to the storm.
A tropical storm warning was issued for southern Maryland, according to the NWS.
New Jersey was under a state of emergency Tuesday as Tropical Storm Isaias made its way up the coast.
Gov Phil Murphy issued the order, telling motorists not be on roads unless ‘absolutely necessary’.
Murphy said all state offices were closed and nonessential state government workers were told to stay home.
A tropical storm warning was in effect for most of New Jersey as Isaias threatened the state with high winds and heavy rainfall.
Weather forecasters are predicting 45 to 55mph winds with gusts to 70mph. Those winds threaten to down trees and power lines.
The state also advised businesses to take down all temporary structures, including outdoor dining tents and umbrellas that were erected during the coronavirus pandemic. The rainfall could cause flooding.
The National Weather Service also issued a tornado watch for the entire state. Hoboken officials told residents in flood-prone areas to park on higher ground.
New York City started preparing for Isaias on Sunday. The storm could hit the Big Apple with 70mph winds, the strongest since Superstorm Sandy.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city began its preparations by implementing flood measures learned from Superstorm Sandy.
Temporary one-mile barriers are being installed from Wall Street to Water Street in Manhattan. Photos showed workers preparing a hydro-dam in the lower Manhattan area to prevent storm surge from Isaias.
Vents were also placed at the Flatbush Ave and Nostrand Ave entrance of the Flatbush Av/Brooklyn College 2 and 5 train station. Rain in New York City is expected to run from 1 to 6pm on Tuesday.
Forecasters have warned that New York City, which is still grappling from the impact of COVID-19, could see some of the strongest wind gusts since Superstorm Sandy.
According to the National Weather Service, winds of up to 70mph are forecast for New York City on Tuesday.
On October 29, 2012, the peak wind gust at John F. Kennedy International Airport was 69mph during Superstorm Sandy.
Meteorologist Ross Dickman told CNN that ‘the wind and flooding impacts from Isaias will be similar to what the city has seen from some of the strongest coastal storms, but we haven’t seen one this strong in many years’.
On top of dealing with a storm, New York City is still reeling from the impact of COVID-19. The city was once the epicenter for the virus, but last month it successfully entered the final phase of reopening.
City officials have asked restaurants to take precautions since most are operating with outdoor seating due to the coronavirus. Indoor dining is still prohibited in New York City.
Fire officials in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, deployed high-water vehicles to rescue motorists stranded in floodwaters early on Tuesday morning
A high-water vehicle is seen driving down a flooded street in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, early on Tuesday morning
Fire officials are begging drivers to stay off the roads so that they could tend to other emergencies during the hurricane
Storm surge is seen above in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, late on Monday after Hurricane Isaias made landfall
Hurricane Isaias approached landfall near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, late on Monday evening, bringing heavy rain and strong wind gusts as well as coastal flooding
Meteorologists also expect up to 5 feet of storm surge for the region as Isaias makes it way inland
Video footage uploaded to social media by residents of Myrtle Beach show flooding induced by storm surge just before the hurricane was due to make landfall.
‘Ocean Boulevard is just covered in storm surge,’ Josh Morgerman tweeted.
In the Carolinas, coastal residents secured patio furniture, ferry operators completed evacuations on the Outer Banks, and officials passed out sandbags and offered car space in elevated garages Monday as Isaias marched northward late on Monday.
Fire officials in North Myrtle Beach deployed high-water vehicles to rescue stranded drivers who got stuck in the floodwaters early Tuesday morning.
‘We are seeing several areas of the city beginning to have ponding on the roadways from heavy rain as well as tidal flooding in Cherry Grove,’ North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue posted on its social media.
Authorities are begging motorists to stay off the roads while the storm continues to impact the region.
‘You being out and getting stuck somewhere you shouldn’t be ties up Emergency Personnel that are needed for other incidents,’ North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue posted on its social media.
Duke Energy reported hundreds of thousands of power outages as heavy rains and winds battered areas including Wrightsville, Kure, and Carolina beaches in Wilmington, North Carolina.
‘The high winds and heavy rains associated with this powerful tropical storm are expected to cause widespread power outages along the coastline and to points well inland,’ a Duke Energy update stated.
‘Updates on the estimated times of restoration may be delayed until the storm clears the area.’
As the storm neared the shore, a gauge on a pier in Myrtle Beach recorded its third highest water level since it was set up in 1976. Only Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and Hurricane Matthew in 2016 pushed more salt water inland.
Hurricane Isaias hit the Virginia area early on Tuesday before making its way toward the New York metropolitan area on Tuesday evening
Severe weather is expected to impact much of the East Coast on Tuesday and into early Wednesday morning
Flood alerts are in effect for most of the Eastern Seaboard stretching from South Carolina all the way up toward Maine
Coastal cities like Atlantic City, New York, and Boston are expected to see strong wind gusts reaching between 60mph and 75mph
Flash flood and tornado warnings have been issued for multiple states, including New York
Oceanfront streets throughout the area flooded as the sea ended up nearly 10 feet above low tide.
Up the coast in southern North Carolina, high winds from Isaias’ inner core knocked down trees and power lines, blocking roads. No major damage was initially reported.
The Carolinas weren’t the only states at risk.
‘All those rains could produce flash flooding across portions of the eastern Carolinas and mid-Atlantic, and even in the northeast United States,’ said Daniel Brown, senior hurricane specialist at the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
A tropical storm warning extended all the way up to Maine, where flash flooding was possible in some areas on Wednesday.
Isaias killed two people in the Caribbean and roughed up the Bahamas but remained at sea as it brushed past Florida over the weekend, providing some welcome relief to emergency managers who had to accommodate mask-wearing evacuees in storm shelters.
People walk across Ocean Boulevard in the rain in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Monday afternoon
A young woman rides a bicycle in the rain on Ocean Boulevard hours before Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Monday
Waves crash against the Pier at Garden City in Garden City, South Carolina, on Monday afternoon
A surfer rides the stormy seas off Garden City, South Carolina, as Hurricane Isaias neared the Carolinas on Monday
The National Hurricane Center also warned of possible tornadoes in North Carolina on Monday night and early Tuesday
Thick clouds and rough surf are seen above at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, on Monday
President Donald Trump on Monday described Isaias as ‘very serious.’
‘Storm surge and inland flooding are possible and everyone needs to remain vigilant until it passes,’ Trump said.
Authorities in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, ordered swimmers out of the water to avoid rough surf and strong rip currents.
Still, many people were out enjoying the beach and walking their dogs under overcast skies.
On Pawleys Island, southwest of Myrtle Beach, Terrie Wilson Heffner moved outdoor furniture and potted plants and kept her TV tuned to weather reports.
A coastal South Carolina resident since 1981, when Hurricane Hugo destroyed her parents’ home, Heffner said she doesn’t leave except for major storms.
‘They don’t really scare me,’ Heffner said, ‘but I have great respect for them.’
Shops and restaurants appeared quieter than usual for a summertime Monday in North Myrtle Beach, but locals blamed COVID-19 more than Isaias.
No businesses were boarding up their windows, although some moved outside furniture inside.
Wayne Stanley and his family came to the city over the weekend from Julian, North Carolina.
He’s never experienced a hurricane, but said he never considered canceling his family’s weeklong vacation either.
‘I was pretty scared to start off with,’ Stanley said Monday. ‘Then we thought maybe it´s not going to be that bad.’
Floodwaters on Ocean Boulevard threaten moped rentals in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Monday night
Floodwaters reach above the knees for one woman who ventured out onto Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach on Monday
The images above show storm surge covering the coastline of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, late on Monday
Storm surge, floods, heavy rains, and downed trees were reported across Myrtle Beach (above) and other nearby towns
Storm surge-induced flooding was seen in Ocean Lakes, South Carolina, late Monday as Hurricane Isaias made landfall
People walk at the Garden City Pier in Garden City, South Carolina, on Monday just hours before Isaias made landfall
Authorities in the Carolinas were warning bathers to get out of the water due to rough surf and high tides caused by Isaias
A man observes the dark clouds and high surf produced by Hurricane Isaias from the balcony of his hotel in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Monday
Children play on the beach in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Monday as Isaias whips up high surf along the coast
A man continued to fish on the beach in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Monday as Isaias made its approach toward the coastline
City of North Myrtle Beach workers removes hanging plans on Main Street ahead of Hurricane Isais on Monday
Officials in frequently flooded Charleston, South Carolina, handed out sandbags and opened parking garages so residents on the low-lying peninsula could stow their cars above ground.
Ferry operators wrapped up evacuations from Ocracoke Island in North Carolina’s Outer Banks on Monday, moving more than 3,500 people and 1,700 vehicles off the island over four days.
Island officials were taking no chances after taking a beating less than a year ago from Hurricane Dorian. Evacuation orders have also been issued for Hatteras Island north of Ocracoke.
Morgan Stewart said many evacuating residents had come into the store where she works in the inland community of Kinston to buy tarps, batteries, flashlights and other supplies.
‘You can tell they’re worried,’ said Stewart, who saw cars parked on higher ground over the weekend as she secured her boat at a marina.
Isaias’ passage near Florida over the weekend was particularly unwelcome to authorities already dealing with surging coronavirus caseloads.
The storm brought heavy rain and flooding to the state, forcing authorities to close outdoor virus testing sights, as well as beaches and parks. Officials lashed signs to palm trees so they wouldn’t blow away.
About 150 people had to keep masks on while sheltering in Palm Beach County, which had a voluntary evacuation order for people living in homes that can’t withstand dangerous winds, said emergency management spokeswoman Lisa De La Rionda.
Connecticut is preparing for the arrival of Isaias, which is expected to bring up to 4 inches of rain in parts of the western half of the state
The coastal area in southern Connecticut could see fierce wind gusts of up to 70mph on Tuesday evening
The coastal areas of the Long Island Sound are likely to see storm surge between 1ft and 3ft beginning Tuesday evening
The New York City tri-state area could also see isolated tornadoes as a result of the storm on Tuesday
Isaias was blamed for two deaths in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, where it uprooted trees, destroyed crops and homes and caused widespread flooding and small landslides over the weekend.
The storm snapped trees and knocked out power Saturday in the Bahamas.
Shelters were opened on Abaco island to help people still living in temporary structures since Dorian devastated the area, killing at least 70 people in September 2019.
Lightning illuminates the skies above New York City on Monday night as showers and thunderstorms hit the area a day before the arrival of Isaias
Lightning strikes as storms hit New York City on Monday. The image above was taken across the Hudson River in Hoboken, New Jersey, on Monday
New York City has started preparing for Isaias, which is expected to strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane as it closes in on the Carolinas before it takes aim at the Northeast. A worker helps prepare a hydro-dam to prevent storm surge in Manhattan on Monday
Mayor Bill de Blasio said the Big Apple is preparing for the storm by implementing flood measures learned from Superstorm Sandy. Temporary one-mile barriers (pictured) are being installed from Wall Street to Water Street in Manhattan
Photos showed workers preparing a hydro-dam in the lower Manhattan area to prevent storm surge from Isaias
Rain in New York City is expected to run from 1 to 6pm on Tuesday. The city also expects winds of 35 to 45mph for two to three hours with some gusts at 60mph
Workers erect temporary flood barriers in the South Street Seaport neighborhood in preparation for potential flooding and a storm surge from Isaias
Temporary sidewalk vent covers have been put in place in preparation of Hurricane Isaias in Manhattan
The vents were put in place at the Flatbush Ave and Nostrand Ave entrance of the Flatbush Av/Brooklyn College 2 and 5 subway station