(1) HW's running thread of information and updates about Hurricane #Florence and other less severe storms affecting the US this week. #Olivia#Isaac and potential #Joyce aka #95L in the #Gulf.
(3) The first clouds of #Florence arriving now. Please evacuate this afternoon, it's the last chance to do so safely. Eventually even first responders will stay put until she passes.
(4) Latest #Florence update (11am). She will affect an enormous area with heavy rain and flooding. "The Harvey of the East."
(5) The storm name #Joyce went to the one forming in the North. #95L in the #Gulf has a 70% chance of becoming a tropical storm within 48 hours. The next available Atlantic names are #Kirk#Leslie (female name) and #Michael.
(6) I like to use gendered pronouns for storms because it's more accurate, I like old fashioned things, and it triggers the SJWs.
(7) Summary:
>#Florence heading West, Max sustained winds 120mph, Severe threat to land
>#Joyce SW, 45mph, Too soon to tell
>#Helene N, 85mph, No threat to land
>#Isaac W, 60mph, Some threat to islands incl PR
>#95L (? #Kirk soon) NW, Too soon to tell
(8) The total area of expected #Florence heavy rainfall keeps increasing with each update. The purple area in the middle is forecast to receive >20 inches of rain over days 1-7, with even more in some locations.
(13) Use the @gasbuddy app to locate stations with gas.
Call, text or visit @distressline, a free 24/7 emotional support line for any1 in the US experiencing distress re current (or past) emergencies of any kind.
>If in doubt evacuate now.
>If staying, keep out of the water until all clear given.
>If flooded out, get on roof, with a bedsheet. Attic can trap you.
>Use 911 only for emergency, if busy, stay on line rather than trying again.
>If staying & you need water rescue, call local non-emergency numbers (or 911) instead of asking publicly on social media, which duplicates & wastes resources.
>Write down your county Sheriff's numbers now.
>Plan for 7 days on your own, not 3 days.
(16) Some great detailed advice for before & after flooding.
While it's too late for new flood insurance plans to cover #Florence#Olivia#Isaac, please consider getting it wherever you live. Most plans kick in after 30 days.
(18) In major disasters like #Florence, #CashIsKing. The best way to help those affected is by donating CASH to trusted organizations (listed at nvoad.org.)
Donating goods is a real pain for responders (unless they ask 4 specific items.) Beware the #SecondDisaster
(19) Please do not give money to individual gofundme campaigns related to hurricanes.
>The chance of scam is high
>Even if the need is genuine, donating to a trusted charity is fairer & more efficient IMO
>Channeling giving thru trusted charities helps plan for future need.
(20) MANDATORY evacuation orders have been made for the worst affected coastal areas.
If you're foolish enough to try to stay, DO NOT go out on the beach as the eye of the storm passes.
Water gets sucked out, then the danger resumes without warning.
(24) This time please, may no first responders lose their lives trying to help others during or after #Florence. RIP Officer Perez, who drowned in #Harvey floodwaters in Houston just over one yr ago.
(25) A great example of how volunteers can help no matter where we are. Complete list & status of hurricane #Florence shelters in North Carolina. Retweeted by @HumanityRoad:
(26) It's too late for the slower wind speeds in now Cat 2 #Florence to reduce the harm she will bring, because all that water that's been scooped up has to come down sometime. Read the 5am key messages: They're not good. #TurnAroundDontDrown#Flooding
(29) "Do not focus on the wind speed category of #Hurricane#Florence! Life-threatening storm surge flooding, catastrophic flash flooding and prolonged significant river flooding are still expected. More: hurricanes.gov " - @NHC_Atlantic
(30) "The track that #Florence takes after landfall is still questionable. Anyone in the Southeast or Mid-Atlantic should continue to monitor this dangerous, life-threatening storm into the weekend." @NWSMARFC (NWS Mid Atlantic River Forecast Center).
(31) Beware the "Second Disaster" of donated goods...
(34) The FEMA-endorsed National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster "has launched donation & volunteer forms on our website. Please visit nvoad.org/howtohelp/curr… for more info on how u can help those affected by #Florence & other storm systems around the country." #NVOAD
(35) Watch this live briefing on #Florence by the Governor of NC at 5pm:
(37) Pretty much the only storm system risking US land now is #Florence. #Olivia passed thru Hawaii as a TS, did some damage. #Isaac passed well to the South of Puerto Rico. #Joyce and #Helene are meandering towards Europe. #95L in Gulf prob stay as is.
(38) "The updated rainfall forecast from @NWSWPC now expands the area that can expect 20+ inches, which includes southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina. The risk for flooding spans as far west as the Appalachian Mountains. #Florence" - @hurrtrackerapp
(39) Not wanting to alarm anyone, but there's always something brewing in the Atlantic at this time of year.
A new tropical low is forecast next week near Bermuda, travelling Westward. I check the nhc.noaa.gov page daily bc I hate being the last to know.
(40) US Dept of Energy: ▶Over 40,000 workers from 17 states have been mobilized to support power restoration efforts after #Florence.
(43) Now she's STRENGTHENED again. Hurricane #Florence is very changeable. If you're in or near an area of risk, please follow her throughout each day so you know what's happening.
(44) 40 minutes ago the number in NC without power was 66,000. It could be ten times higher by tomorrow. Then there's SC, GA, TN, WV and VA as well.
(45) It's just gone midnight Eastern. The 11pm update showed #Florence 60 miles East of Wilmington, NC, moving at 6 mph. Not good! Will make the already severe predicted flooding even worse.
My thoughts are with everyone affected by this storm.
(46) Hurricane #Florence making landfall in NC about now.
(47) She's a most unusually shaped hurricane, #Florence. Constantly changing.
Not especially strong wind speeds but A LOT of rain, over a long period of time.
(48) "#Florence is making landfall between #TopsailBeach and #WrightsvilleBeach. Wind speeds are at 90 mph, storm is slowly moving WNW 6 mph. Catastrophic freshwater flooding expected with another 20 to 25 inches of rain in SE NC." - @SCETV
(49) Another satellite image of #Florence, 4.39am Friday. The dot is Myrtle Beach, SC.
>300,000 customers without power in North Carolina.
Hang in there folks.
(50) During #Florence you can listen to the Weather Channel for free on Sirius XM. siriusxm.com
(51) I'm used to a hurricane making landfall within about 30 minutes of people starting to talk about it. #Florence is very slow. By the sounds of it, Eastern NC is getting absolutely pummeled.
(2) Brett M. Kavanaugh will soon be the 102nd Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the USA. He has earned this highest honor throughout his life, inspired by his trailblazing mother, Judge Martha Kavanaugh.
His title for these few hours is Associate Justice Designate.
(3) This statement from the Supreme Court explains the two ceremonies:
(2) This WaPo reporter is incorrect about the vote being "scheduled for" Saturday. The earliest time a vote COULD be held is Saturday pm. There's no reason not to hold it on Sun/Mon IF we need Daines. I think we won't. Read my 5 tweets about him here:
(1) A directory of my Kavanaugh threads since July 9, 2018.
I never planned more than a couple of threads about him this year but, I shoulda known the Dems would try to destroy whoever was the nominee this time.
(2) Like Democrats, I'd already decided how I felt about him before his nomination was announced. I live-tweeted the announcement, which was a great event in itself.
(3) I followed Kavanaugh's progress over the summer and on September 22nd, I finally wrote a thread about the preparations for the all-important hearing on September 27th. It covers the hearing before the next thread started the day after.
(2) Mitch laughing to himself about how absurd it is that he has to push his way through the crowd of reporters on 9/25/18.
(3) Sen Grassley is 85 years old. (Democrats have senators around that age, too.)
Today he had to hold onto a Capitol Police officer to reduce the risk of a reporter knocking him over. This has to stop. Senators must return to being able to walk around freely at work.
(2) First Lady Melania Trump is a natural in this important role.
She's one of those women whose face lights up whenever she is around children. God Bless our great First Lady.
👠🇺🇸
(3) FLOTUS left Joint Base Andrews in her trademark high heels and arrived in Ghana wearing practical flats. She still looks sensational, whatever she happens to wear!
(2) Cloture in the Senate is a procedural step that you can learn more about at the link below. The senate.gov website is the best resource for learning about Senate procedure and a lot more. Same for house.gov.
(3) Watching live Senate floor proceedings is boring as hell, as they pass bills for naming Post Offices, & so on. But every now & then, they confirm a SCOTUS judge. And this time, they will affirm our great #BillOfRights#DueProcess & the hard-won #RuleOfLaw. Seriously. 🇺🇸🦅