By JONATHAN DREW , Associated Press WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — Coastal residents fleeing a potentially devastating blow from Hurricane Florence encountered empty gasoline pumps and depleted store shelves as the monster storm neared the Carolina coast with 140 mph (225 kph) winds and drenching rain that could last for days. While some said they planned…
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Latest on Hurricane Florence (all times local): 4:40 p.m. Forecasters at the University of Michigan predict that 2.4 million people will lose power from Hurricane Florence and some outages could be prolonged. That’s about one-fourth the number who suffered outages from Hurricane Sandy, which hit a more populated area around…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — President Donald Trump is canceling a campaign rally in Missouri as a potentially catastrophic hurricane nears the East Coast.Trump on Tuesday announced he’s axing his planned visit to Cape Girardeau on Thursday. His campaign says that’s the safest decision in light of the approaching hurricane. Hurricane Florence is expected to…
By RUSS BYNUM , Associated Press Rapidly intensifying Hurricane Florence could strike a direct and dangerous blow anywhere from the Carolinas to the Mid-Atlantic region later this week, possibly as a fearsome category 4. A hurricane hunter plane found Florence strengthening quickly, reaching top winds of 85 mph (140 kph) Sunday evening after crossing the…
ATLANTA (AP) — As Hurricane Florence heads toward the East Coast, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington is encouraging its students to leave campus this week for a safer location. The university said Sunday that it has issued a voluntary evacuation for students starting at noon Monday. Students are urged — but not required —…