[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KCHS 062221
HLSCHS
GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040-042>045-047>052-070630-

HURRICANE MATTHEW LOCAL STATEMENT ADVISORY NUMBER 35
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC  AL142016
621 PM EDT THU OCT 6 2016

THIS PRODUCT COVERS SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA

**DANGEROUS HURRICANE MATTHEW WILL IMPACT THE REGION FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY**

NEW INFORMATION
---------------

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - A HURRICANE WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR INLAND BERKELEY...CHARLESTON
      AND TIDAL BERKELEY
    - A TROPICAL STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR JENKINS...SCREVEN...CANDLER...
      BULLOCH...TATTNALL...EVANS...ALLENDALE...HAMPTON...INLAND COLLETON AND
      DORCHESTER

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR INLAND BERKELEY...CHARLESTON AND TIDAL BERKELEY
    - A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR JENKINS...SCREVEN...CANDLER...
      BULLOCH...TATTNALL...EVANS...ALLENDALE...HAMPTON...INLAND COLLETON AND DORCHESTER
    - A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR INLAND BRYAN...COASTAL BRYAN...
      INLAND CHATHAM...COASTAL CHATHAM...INLAND LIBERTY...COASTAL LIBERTY...INLAND
      MCINTOSH...COASTAL MCINTOSH...INLAND JASPER...BEAUFORT...COASTAL COLLETON AND
      COASTAL JASPER
    - A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EFFINGHAM...LONG

* STORM INFORMATION:
    - ABOUT 450 MILES SOUTH OF CHARLESTON SC OR ABOUT 430 MILES
      SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF SAVANNAH GA
    - 26.2N 78.6W
    - STORM INTENSITY 140 MPH
    - MOVEMENT NORTHWEST OR 325 DEGREES AT 13 MPH

SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------

HURRICANE MATTHEW WILL APPROACH THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA TONIGHT...
THEN TURN NORTH AND TRACK NEAR THE GEORGIA COAST FRIDAY NIGHT INTO
SATURDAY. THE HURRICANE COULD CONTINUE TO TRACK NEAR THE SOUTH
CAROLINA COAST SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT BEFORE TURNING EAST.
MATTHEW COULD BE A CATEGORY 2 OR CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE AS IT PASSES
CLOSE TO THE GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA COASTS.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE FORECAST TO REACH COASTAL SOUTHEAST
GEORGIA FRIDAY AFTERNOON...THEN NORTH ALONG COASTAL SOUTHEAST SOUTH
CAROLINA FRIDAY EVENING AND FRIDAY NIGHT. ACROSS INLAND AREAS...
SUSTAINED WINDS COULD REACH AS HIGH AS 40-50 MPH WITH GUSTS OF
50-60 MPH. NEAR THE COAST...SUSTAINED WINDS OF 60-70 MPH WITH GUSTS AS
HIGH AS 90 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE. THESE WINDS WILL LIKELY DAMAGE TREES
AND WEAKER STRUCTURES AND RESULT IN WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES. THERE IS
AN INCREASING RISK OF SUSTAINED HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ALONG THE
IMMEDIATE COASTLINE IF MATTHEW MAINTAINS A CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE
COAST. THE THREAT FOR HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WILL INCREASE FOR COASTAL
LOCATIONS LATE FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY...THEN LOWER AS MATTHEW
SHIFTS AWAY FROM THE COAST. THE THREAT FOR TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS
OR HIGHER SHOULD BEGIN TO DECREASE SATURDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY SUNDAY.

RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 8 TO 14 INCHES ARE EXPECTED WITH LOCALLY HIGHER
AMOUNTS...EXCEPT 3 TO 6 INCHES ACROSS INTERIOR SOUTHEAST GEORGIA.
AT THE COAST...EXCESSIVE RAINFALL COMBINED WITH HIGH STORM SURGE
WILL ENHANCE THE RISK FOR DANGEROUS FLOODING. THE RISK WILL BE
ESPECIALLY HIGH IN THE DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON AREA WHERE THE COMBINATION
OF RAIN AND SURGE COULD BE WORSE THAN WHAT WAS OBSERVED DURING THE
OCTOBER FLOOD EVENT OF LAST YEAR. AN ENHANCED FLOOD RISK WILL ALSO
OCCUR FOR THE DOWNTOWN SAVANNAH AREA. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BEGIN
FRIDAY MORNING AND CONTINUE INTO SATURDAY MORNING ACROSS SOUTHEAST
GEORGIA AND INTO SATURDAY EVENING ACROSS SOUTHERN SOUTH CAROLINA.

THE MOST LIKELY STORM SURGE SCENARIO ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANE MATTHEW
IS 7 TO 9 FEET OF INUNDATION ABOVE GROUND LEVEL IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA
WITH LOCALLY HIGHER LEVELS. IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA...4 TO 8 FEET
OF INUNDATION WITH LOCALLY HIGHER LEVELS IS EXPECTED. STORM SURGE
FORECASTS COULD BE HIGHER OR LOWER DEPENDING ON THE TRACK AND
INTENSITY OF MATTHEW AS IT APPROACHES THE AREA THIS WEEKEND. THE
COMBINATION OF STORM SURGE AND WAVES COULD RESULT IN MAJOR COASTAL
FLOODING AND SEVERE BEACH EROSION. HOMES...STRUCTURES AND ROADS NEAR
BEACHES COULD BE COMPROMISED. THE THREAT FOR DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS
WILL ALSO INCREASE WITH THE APPROACH OF MATTHEW LATE WEEK INTO THE
WEEKEND.

THE THREAT FOR TORNADOES WILL REMAIN LOW THIS WEEKEND BECAUSE THE
CENTER OF HURRICANE MATTHEW IS ANTICIPATED TO REMAIN OFFSHORE.
HOWEVER...THERE IS A RISK FOR ISOLATED TORNADOES IN COASTAL AREAS
FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY AS RAIN BANDS MOVING ASHORE.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------

* WIND:
PROTECT AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING WIND HAVING POSSIBLE DEVASTATING
IMPACTS ACROSS COASTAL COUNTIES. POTENTIAL IMPACTS IN THIS AREA INCLUDE:
    - STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO STURDY BUILDINGS, SOME WITH COMPLETE ROOF
      AND WALL FAILURES. COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF MOBILE HOMES. DAMAGE
      GREATLY ACCENTUATED BY LARGE AIRBORNE PROJECTILES. LOCATIONS
      MAY BE UNINHABITABLE FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS.
    - UNSAFE TO SHELTER EVEN IN WELL-CONSTRUCTED BUILDINGS.
      IMPOSSIBLE TO VENTURE OUTSIDE DUE TO FALLING OBJECTS AND
      AIRBORNE PROJECTILES.
    - NUMEROUS LARGE TREES SNAPPED OR UPROOTED ALONG WITH FENCES AND
      ROADWAY SIGNS BLOWN OVER.
    - MANY ROADS IMPASSABLE FROM LARGE DEBRIS, AND MORE WITHIN URBAN
      OR HEAVILY WOODED LOCATIONS. MOST OR ALL BRIDGES AND ACCESS
      ROUTES IMPASSABLE.
    - WIDESPREAD DAMAGE TO POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE
      WITH RESULTING OUTAGES POSSIBLY LASTING FOR WEEKS OR LONGER.
      GAS LEAKS AND FALLEN ELECTRIC WIRES POSE A THREAT TO LIFE.
    - MANY VESSELS WILL LIKELY BREAK FREE FROM MOORINGS.

ALSO, PROTECT AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING WIND HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED
TO EXTENSIVE IMPACTS ACROSS INLAND AREAS.

* SURGE:
PROTECT AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING SURGE HAVING POSSIBLE DEVASTATING
IMPACTS ACROSS LOW-LYING TIDAL AREAS. POTENTIAL IMPACTS IN
THIS AREA INCLUDE:
    - WIDESPREAD DEEP INUNDATION OF SALTWATER ALONG IMMEDIATE
      SHORELINES AND IN LOW-LYING SPOTS FARTHER INLAND NEAR RIVERS
      AND CREEKS, WITH STORM SURGE FLOODING GREATLY ACCENTUATED BY
      POWERFUL BATTERING WAVES. MANY BUILDINGS WASHED AWAY OR
      EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED. DAMAGE GREATLY COMPOUNDED BY CONSIDERABLE
      BATTERING BY FLOATING DEBRIS. LOCATIONS MAY BE UNINHABITABLE
      FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD.
    - NEAR-SHORE ESCAPE ROUTES AND SECONDARY ROADS WASHED OUT OR
      SEVERELY FLOODED. FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEMS AND BARRIERS MAY BECOME
      STRESSED OR OVERWHELMED.
    - EXTREME BEACH EROSION LIKELY WITH SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF DUNES.
      POTENTIAL FOR NEW INLETS CARVED INTO OR THROUGH SOME BARRIER
      ISLANDS. LARGE AMOUNTS OF SAND BLOCKING ROADS ON BARRIER
      ISLANDS.
    - MASSIVE DAMAGE TO MARINAS, DOCKS, BOARDWALKS, AND PIERS.
      NUMEROUS SMALL CRAFT BROKEN AWAY FROM MOORINGS WITH MANY LIFTED
      ONSHORE AND STRANDED. MANY AIDS TO NAVIGATION LOST. SIGNIFICANT
      DEBRIS PRESENTS A HAZARD TO NAVIGATION.
    - WATER AND SEWER SERVICES LIKELY NOT AVAILABLE.
    - HAZARDOUS CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS LIKELY PRESENT IN SURGE
      WATERS.
    - GAS LEAKS AND FALLEN ELECTRIC WIRES POSE A THREAT TO LIFE.

ELSEWHERE ACROSS SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA,
LITTLE TO NO IMPACT IS ANTICIPATED.

* FLOODING RAIN:
PROTECT AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING RAINFALL WITH EXTENSIVE FLOODING POSSIBLE
ACROSS SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND SOUTHERN SOUTH CAROLINA. POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE:
    - MAJOR RAINFALL FLOODING MAY PROMPT MANY EVACUATIONS AND RESCUES.
    - RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES MAY RAPIDLY OVERFLOW THEIR BANKS IN
      MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. SMALL STREAMS, CREEKS, CANALS, DITCHES MAY
      BECOME DANGEROUS RIVERS. FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEMS AND BARRIERS
      COULD BECOME STRESSED.
    - FLOOD WATERS COULD ENTER MANY STRUCTURES WITHIN MULTIPLE
      COMMUNITIES; SOME STRUCTURES BECOME UNINHABITABLE OR ARE WASHED
      AWAY. FLOOD WATERS COULD COVER MULTIPLE ESCAPE ROUTES. STREETS
      AND PARKING LOTS BECOME RIVERS OF MOVING WATER WITH UNDERPASSES
      SUBMERGED. DRIVING CONDITIONS BECOME DANGEROUS. MANY ROAD AND
      BRIDGE CLOSURES WITH SOME WEAKENED OR WASHED OUT.
    - DRINKING WATER AND SEWER SERVICES COULD BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED.
    - HAZARDOUS CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS POSSIBLY PRESENT IN FLOOD
      WATERS.

* TORNADOES:
PROTECT AGAINST A TORNADO EVENT HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS
ACROSS COASTAL LOCATIONS. POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE:
    - ISOLATED TORNADOES CAN HINDER THE EXECUTION OF EMERGENCY PLANS.
    - ISOLATED LOCATIONS COULD EXPERIENCE TORNADO DAMAGE, ALONG WITH
      POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS DISRUPTIONS.
    - IN ISOLATED LOCATIONS, TORNADOES COULD DAMAGE TREES, VEHICLES,
      BOATS AND BUILDINGS, ESPECIALLY MOBILE HOMES AND AND OTHER
      POORLY CONSTRUCTED STRUCTURES.

ELSEWHERE ACROSS SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA,
LITTLE TO NO IMPACT IS ANTICIPATED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
----------------------------------

* EVACUATIONS:

FOR THOSE UNDER EVACUATION ORDERS, LEAVE AS SOON AS PRACTICAL
WITH A DESTINATION IN MIND. GAS UP YOUR VEHICLE WELL AHEAD OF
TIME. BE SURE THAT YOU TAKE ALL ESSENTIAL MATERIALS FROM YOUR
EMERGENCY SUPPLIES KIT. LET OTHERS KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING AND
WHEN YOU INTEND TO ARRIVE.

* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:

NOW IS THE TIME TO BRING TO COMPLETION ALL PREPARATIONS TO
PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR EMERGENCY PLAN.

OUTSIDE PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE WRAPPED UP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE
WEATHER CONDITIONS COMPLETELY DETERIORATE. ANY REMAINING EVACUATIONS
AND RELOCATIONS SHOULD BE EXPEDITED BEFORE THE ONSET OF TROPICAL
STORM FORCE WIND.

IF YOU ARE RELOCATING TO SAFE SHELTER, LEAVE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. IF
HEADING TO A COMMUNITY SHELTER, BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE SHELTER
RULES BEFORE ARRIVAL, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS OR OWN A
PET. TAKE ESSENTIAL ITEMS WITH YOU FROM YOUR EMERGENCY SUPPLIES KIT.
CHECK THE LATEST WEATHER FORECAST BEFORE DEPARTING.

FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY SHELTER MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR LOSS OF
LIFE. ALWAYS HEED THE ADVICE OF LOCAL OFFICIALS AND COMPLY WITH ANY
ORDERS THAT ARE ISSUED. REMEMBER, DURING THE STORM 9 1 1 EMERGENCY
SERVICES MAY NOT BE ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESPOND IF CONDITIONS ARE
UNSAFE. THIS SHOULD BE A BIG FACTOR IN YOUR DECISION MAKING.

CHECK-IN WITH YOUR EMERGENCY POINTS OF CONTACT AMONG FAMILY, FRIENDS,
AND CO-WORKERS. INFORM THEM OF YOUR STATUS AND WELL-BEING. LET THEM
KNOW HOW YOU INTEND TO RIDE OUT THE STORM AND WHEN YOU PLAN TO
CHECK-IN AGAIN.

KEEP CELL PHONES WELL CHARGED AND HANDY. ALSO, CELL PHONE CHARGERS
FOR AUTOMOBILES CAN BE HELPFUL AFTER THE STORM. LOCATE YOUR CHARGERS
AND KEEP THEM WITH YOUR CELL PHONE.

IN EMERGENCIES IT IS BEST TO REMAIN CALM. STAY INFORMED AND FOCUSED
ON THE SITUATION AT HAND. EXERCISE PATIENCE WITH THOSE YOU ENCOUNTER.
BE A GOOD SAMARITAN AND HELPFUL TO OTHERS.

IF RELOCATING TO A NEARBY SHELTER OR TO THE HOME OF A FAMILY MEMBER
OR FRIEND, DRIVE WITH EXTRA CAUTION, ESPECIALLY ON SECONDARY ROADS.
REMEMBER, MANY BRIDGES AND CAUSEWAYS WILL BE CLOSED ONCE HIGHER WINDS
ARRIVE. ALSO, IF YOU ENCOUNTER WATER COVERING THE ROAD, SEEK AN
ALTERNATE ROUTE. ALWAYS OBEY OFFICIAL ROAD SIGNS FOR CLOSURES AND
DETOURS.

IF YOU ARE A VISITOR AND STILL IN THE AREA, LISTEN FOR THE NAME OF
THE CITY OR TOWN IN WHICH YOU ARE STAYING WITHIN LOCAL NEWS UPDATES.
BE SURE YOU KNOW THE NAME OF THE COUNTY OR PARISH IN WHICH IT
RESIDES. PAY ATTENTION FOR INSTRUCTIONS FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES.

CLOSELY MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER LOCAL NEWS OUTLETS FOR
OFFICIAL STORM INFORMATION. BE READY TO ADAPT TO POSSIBLE CHANGES TO
THE FORECAST.

* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
- FOR INFORMATION ON APPROPRIATE PREPARATIONS SEE READY.GOV
- FOR INFORMATION ON CREATING AN EMERGENCY PLAN SEE GETAGAMEPLAN.ORG
- FOR ADDITIONAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION SEE REDCROSS.ORG

NEXT UPDATE
-----------

THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN CHARLESTON SC AROUND 1215 AM EDT, OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS
WARRANT.

$$
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