Ruining the Labor Day holiday weekend for many beach-minded vacationers, the Category 1 Hurricane Hermine hit Florida early Friday morning before turning north, taking its time as it gathered strength. Buffeting Florida with 65 mph winds, it slowed down as it headed north, leading governors in Maryland and Virginia to declare a state of emergency in some coastal regions. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe warned Friday that people faced a strong possibility of “life-threatening” storm surges in coastal areas over the weekend.
New Jersey’s Governor Chris Christie declared a state of emergency on Saturday, advising residents in coastal areas to evacuate. The storm is expected to hit New Jersey Sunday night, lingering offshore for several days, causing unusually high-tides and flooding. The state is still recovering from Category 2 Hurricane Sandy that hit in 2012, the second costliest hurricane in US history after Hurricane Katrina. 223 people died in eight countries as a result of Hurricane Sandy.
One man died in Ocala, Florida when a tree fell on the tent he was sleeping in. In North Carolina, a truck overturned on a bridge, killing the driver.
