This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/08/us/hurricane-matthew.html
The article has changed 21 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 16 | Version 17 |
|---|---|
| Hurricane Matthew Makes Landfall; Severe Inland Flooding Feared | Hurricane Matthew Makes Landfall; Severe Inland Flooding Feared |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Hurricane Matthew made landfall Saturday morning near McClellanville, S.C., about 30 miles northeast of Charleston, as a Category 1 storm with 75 miles per hour sustained winds. By midafternoon Saturday, the eye was nearing the North Carolina border. | |
| The National Hurricane Center warned that torrential rains were already spreading inland across the Carolinas, and that serious inland flooding was possible. | |
| Charleston reported substantial flooding in parts of the city, particularly downtown, with water breaching the sea wall. Water also rushed through the streets of Savannah. Flooding was also reported in other coastal areas of Georgia and South Carolina. | |
| Dispatches from our reporters on the ground; a live storm tracker map; and answers to reader questions will be updated below. | Dispatches from our reporters on the ground; a live storm tracker map; and answers to reader questions will be updated below. |
| ■ The storm’s death toll in the United States has climbed to at least 11. Local officials in Georgia confirmed three deaths, as did Gov. Pat McCrory of North Carolina. At least five fatalities in Florida have been attributed to the storm. | |
| More than 800 people died in Haiti, according to a Reuters report based on information from civil protection and local officials. | |
| ■ The White House said President Obama had spoken with the governors of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, and had reiterated his commitment to provide federal aid. | |
| ■ Hurricane Matthew was just barely a hurricane as it made landfall, with winds at 75 m.p.h.; when the storm roared into Haiti, they were 145 m.p.h. To be classified as a hurricane, a storm must have sustained winds of at least 74 m.p.h. | |
| ■ In Georgia, the hurricane set a storm surge record for Tybee Island, near the border with South Carolina. The surge reached 12.5 feet, according to the Chatham County Emergency Management Agency, exceeding the previous high of 12.2 feet, which was set when Hurricane David roared ashore in 1979. | |
| ■ Florida officials said Saturday that 879,000 customers were without electricity, and that they hoped to have power restored to most people by Sunday night. More than a quarter of a million customers were without power in Georgia, and at least 430,000 in South Carolina. | ■ Florida officials said Saturday that 879,000 customers were without electricity, and that they hoped to have power restored to most people by Sunday night. More than a quarter of a million customers were without power in Georgia, and at least 430,000 in South Carolina. |
| ■ The authorities in Georgia have closed stretches of Interstate 95, forcing cars and trucks to drive onto the waterlogged shoulders to avoid fallen pine trees that blocked the road. | |
| ■ To cover the storm and its aftermath, The New York Times has journalists deployed along the path of Hurricane Matthew. Follow our correspondents on Twitter. | ■ To cover the storm and its aftermath, The New York Times has journalists deployed along the path of Hurricane Matthew. Follow our correspondents on Twitter. |
| Hurricane Matthew lashed South Carolina’s Low Country with rain and sent the sea surging upward, turning roads into rivers and ripping trees from the inundated ground before making landfall northeast of Charleston. | Hurricane Matthew lashed South Carolina’s Low Country with rain and sent the sea surging upward, turning roads into rivers and ripping trees from the inundated ground before making landfall northeast of Charleston. |
| “We had a lot of rain, for many hours,” said Capt. Bob Bromage, the public information officer for the Sheriff’s Department in Beaufort County, southeast of Charleston. “We had flooding, we may have had some surge that we’re not aware of yet, we have downed trees, we have reports of downed trees on houses already.” | “We had a lot of rain, for many hours,” said Capt. Bob Bromage, the public information officer for the Sheriff’s Department in Beaufort County, southeast of Charleston. “We had flooding, we may have had some surge that we’re not aware of yet, we have downed trees, we have reports of downed trees on houses already.” |
| In Charleston, Mayor John Tecklenburg said the city was starting to assess the damage. Earlier, the wind picked up as the eye wall rolled through and water filled many downtown streets and flowed over the sea wall along East Battery Street, along the southeastern edge of this peninsular city. Pools of water remained around the city. | In Charleston, Mayor John Tecklenburg said the city was starting to assess the damage. Earlier, the wind picked up as the eye wall rolled through and water filled many downtown streets and flowed over the sea wall along East Battery Street, along the southeastern edge of this peninsular city. Pools of water remained around the city. |
| Still many here felt a measure of relief as the storm moved north. | Still many here felt a measure of relief as the storm moved north. |
| J.T. Thomas, 51, was spending the storm on his yacht in the Charleston City Marina, watching it on the radar. | J.T. Thomas, 51, was spending the storm on his yacht in the Charleston City Marina, watching it on the radar. |
| “It’s a little roll-y,” Mr. Thomas said early Saturday, “but nobody broke loose and the tide’s gone out now.” | “It’s a little roll-y,” Mr. Thomas said early Saturday, “but nobody broke loose and the tide’s gone out now.” |
| But the hurricane did bring the highest tidal surge — more than nine feet — since Hurricane Hugo, the catastrophic 1989 storm etched deeply into this city’s consciousness. Officials urged people to stay inside, even if it seemed as if the threat had passed. The storm made landfall close to where Hurricane Hugo came ashore. | |
| “When the storm hits, you’re praying, and then now the frustration sets in,” Gov. Nikki R. Haley said. “And what I am going to ask for you is patience. Most injuries, most fatalities occur after a storm because people attempt to move in too soon.” | “When the storm hits, you’re praying, and then now the frustration sets in,” Gov. Nikki R. Haley said. “And what I am going to ask for you is patience. Most injuries, most fatalities occur after a storm because people attempt to move in too soon.” |
| Parrish Rowland, a resident of a public housing complex on Charleston’s King Street, was among many in the city who did not heed that advice, and waded through waist-deep water, hoping to find something to eat. | Parrish Rowland, a resident of a public housing complex on Charleston’s King Street, was among many in the city who did not heed that advice, and waded through waist-deep water, hoping to find something to eat. |
| “I just figured I’d make it my way,” said Mr. Rowland, who spoke casually, even though the water was so deep it reached halfway up the gas pumps nearby. — JESS BIDGOOD, in Charleston. | |
| Although North Carolina officials were hoping just days ago that the state would dodge the storm’s wrath, the hurricane’s shifting path left coastal and inland areas vulnerable. | Although North Carolina officials were hoping just days ago that the state would dodge the storm’s wrath, the hurricane’s shifting path left coastal and inland areas vulnerable. |
| “I’m extremely concerned since this hurricane has been downgraded that people will let up their guard, and it’s these types of hurricanes that settle over our state that have caused the most damage and loss of life and destruction,” Governor McCrory said. | |
| Mr. McCrory said at least three people had died in the state because of the storm, which was dumping large amounts of rain in already-saturated regions of the states. The National Hurricane Center said some parts of North Carolina could record up to seven feet of storm surge. | |
| Mr. McCrory warned that the storm could turn around and go through the coastal area again Saturday. He the state could experience its worst flooding since Hurricane Floyd in 1999. — ALAN BLINDER, in Orlando | Mr. McCrory warned that the storm could turn around and go through the coastal area again Saturday. He the state could experience its worst flooding since Hurricane Floyd in 1999. — ALAN BLINDER, in Orlando |
| Gov. Rick Scott of Florida said Saturday that the state had suffered “unbelievable amounts of beach erosion,” as well as damaged roads, flooding and felled trees. | Gov. Rick Scott of Florida said Saturday that the state had suffered “unbelievable amounts of beach erosion,” as well as damaged roads, flooding and felled trees. |
| But Mr. Scott, who flew along the coastline to survey storm damage, said the storm’s consequences could have been far worse. | But Mr. Scott, who flew along the coastline to survey storm damage, said the storm’s consequences could have been far worse. |
| “The first thing we can say is we are all blessed that Matthew stayed off our coast,” he said. “I worried the whole time that even though the track was off our coast, that it would turn in and have a direct hit at some point.” | “The first thing we can say is we are all blessed that Matthew stayed off our coast,” he said. “I worried the whole time that even though the track was off our coast, that it would turn in and have a direct hit at some point.” |
| State and local officials said they were trying to expedite recovery. | State and local officials said they were trying to expedite recovery. |
| “We’re going to ride each other hard,” said Mayor Lenny Curry of Jacksonville. “We’re going to ride our utilities, we’re going to ride all of our workers to get this community back together as quickly and as safely as possible. | “We’re going to ride each other hard,” said Mayor Lenny Curry of Jacksonville. “We’re going to ride our utilities, we’re going to ride all of our workers to get this community back together as quickly and as safely as possible. |
| Still, Mayor Charlie Latham of Jacksonville Beach asked for patience. | Still, Mayor Charlie Latham of Jacksonville Beach asked for patience. |
| “We’re working diligently, and to be honest with you, we’re doing our very best just to get people home and provide safe access,” Mr. Latham said. — ALAN BLINDER, in Orlando | “We’re working diligently, and to be honest with you, we’re doing our very best just to get people home and provide safe access,” Mr. Latham said. — ALAN BLINDER, in Orlando |
| In Haiti, the Bahamas and Florida, the storm left behind stories of disaster and of disaster narrowly averted. Here are some of them. | In Haiti, the Bahamas and Florida, the storm left behind stories of disaster and of disaster narrowly averted. Here are some of them. |
| Forecasters say there are hints that the storm could take a path back toward the coastline, at a reduced strength. Read more » | |
| John Schwartz, a New York Times reporter who covers climate change and the environment, is answering reader questions about the storm. He rode out his first hurricane, Carla, in his hometown, Galveston, Tex., at age 4. He has covered the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, as well as other storms for The Times. | John Schwartz, a New York Times reporter who covers climate change and the environment, is answering reader questions about the storm. He rode out his first hurricane, Carla, in his hometown, Galveston, Tex., at age 4. He has covered the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, as well as other storms for The Times. |
| Ask your hurricane questions here. | Ask your hurricane questions here. |
| Why do weather agencies and the news media keep getting the forecasts so wrong and overstate the severity of hurricanes? Is this some kind of insurance liability issue, where they are afraid of getting sued if they don’t paint a ‘doomsday’ picture? — Jim | Why do weather agencies and the news media keep getting the forecasts so wrong and overstate the severity of hurricanes? Is this some kind of insurance liability issue, where they are afraid of getting sued if they don’t paint a ‘doomsday’ picture? — Jim |
| The conservative approach isn’t about liability, Jim, it’s about saving lives. The storm track that Matthew has followed has been well within the range of possibilities that the National Hurricane Center has been talking about all along. This is still a dangerous storm, and just because some stretches of the Florida coast have not been hit as catastrophically as was possible, that does not mean the rest of Florida or Georgia or South Carolina are in the clear. | The conservative approach isn’t about liability, Jim, it’s about saving lives. The storm track that Matthew has followed has been well within the range of possibilities that the National Hurricane Center has been talking about all along. This is still a dangerous storm, and just because some stretches of the Florida coast have not been hit as catastrophically as was possible, that does not mean the rest of Florida or Georgia or South Carolina are in the clear. |
| Marshall Shepherd, the director of Atmospheric Sciences Program, University of Georgia, has been fiercely defending the warnings on Twitter, and I’ll let him do the talking here: | Marshall Shepherd, the director of Atmospheric Sciences Program, University of Georgia, has been fiercely defending the warnings on Twitter, and I’ll let him do the talking here: |
| Chris W. Landsea, science and operations officer for the National Hurricane Center, said that while the storm has weakened somewhat, it is now spread over a larger area, and “a larger hurricane can cause more storm surge,” and a larger wind field; the wind damage, in other words, can be felt over a larger area. So a slightly weaker but larger storm is “kind of a wash, as far as impacts,” he said. | Chris W. Landsea, science and operations officer for the National Hurricane Center, said that while the storm has weakened somewhat, it is now spread over a larger area, and “a larger hurricane can cause more storm surge,” and a larger wind field; the wind damage, in other words, can be felt over a larger area. So a slightly weaker but larger storm is “kind of a wash, as far as impacts,” he said. |