He hears this storm will enter Carteret County about 8 pm and finally leave the Outer Banks sometime on Friday.
Because of the slowness, the expected storm surge will be worse, 9-11 feet rather than the 5-7 predicted, and it will be 9 inches of rain east of I- 95.
If you flooded in Isabel, in Alex, this will be worse. He said there are 61 shelters open, and the National Guard has been activated, but they can't come rescue you until Ophelia leaves and the winds die down. He wanted everyone who has been issued a mandatory or voluntary evacuation notice and is still waiting for the hurricane to come to go to the shelters now.
He said the barrier islands will be hit both ways, as the storm surge pushes water over and up rivers and sounds, then as the storm leaves the surge water will be pushed back out the other way and overrun the islands.
FEMA has sent an advance team, but they won't be able to start making assessments and bringing in the aid to where it is needed until Ophelia leaves on Friday.
