Hurricane Dorian is expected to hit the outer banks of North Carolina on September 6 after triggering tornadoes in South Carolina. The cyclonic storm has weakened to a Category 1 storm. The outer banks of North Carolina is a stretch of low lying islands. About 500 of 1000 people have stuck around to face the storm on Ocracoke Island. A resident of the island said the ferries paused their services, traders shut their establishments, boats are tied down and the yards are cleaned up.

The hurricane devastated the Bahamas islands with maximum wind speed reaching up to 185 mph and gusts up to 220 mph which took the lives of at least 30 people. It swiftly escaped Florida, Georgia and hugged the South Carolina-North Carolina coastline. The hurricane caused massive devastation in South Carolina leaving more than 250,000 homes and business establishments snapped away from power and telecom. Later, the wind speed gradually fell down to 100 mph making it a Category 1 storm.

READ: Bahamians Begin Rescue Operation As Dorian Moves On Toward US Coast

READ: Hurricane Dorian Death Toll Likely To Increase, Says PM Hubert Minnis

Dorian moves near the coastline

As the hurricane moved near the coast of North Carolina, it resulted in heavy rainfall with trees bending over and traffic lights swaying away. The overnight winds were expected to cause trees and branches to fall over electric lines and debris encroach the roads. The customers have been earlier warned of prolonged power cuts. The North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper was concerned about the safety and precautions are taken by the concerned authorities. He said everyone should stay indoors until the storm passes away and pray for their safety.

READ: Hurricane Dorian Wrecks Bahamas: Death Toll At 20 Says Government

Evacuation process underway

Evacuation process has started along the coast and about 150 evacuees were camped out at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina. The National Hurricane Centre has forecast as much as 15 inches of heavy rainfall along with the coastal Carolinas with flash flooding likely. As on Friday, Dorian was monitored around 55 miles east of Wilmington, North Carolina, and 30 miles south south-west of Cape Lookout, North Carolina moving northeast at 15 mph. The storm is expected to gradually weaken over the next few days as it crosses along the coast of North Carolina. Naval ships were ordered not to venture into the seas and come out of the storm and military airplanes were moved inland. More than 700 commercial flights scheduled for Thursday and Friday were canceled. Some of the shelter cattle were shifted from the coasts of Carolina to Delaware. (with inputs from AP)

READ: Miami’s Bahamian Ties Inspire Relief Effort After Hurricane Dorian