Hurricane Florence is knocking on the door of the Carolina coastlines, and she even has the audacity to be causing havoc with this weekend’s football schedule.
Actually, a look at the National Weather Service map today looked like “Team Hurricanes” have our country in a classic “box-and-1” defense as there were four named storms marching westward across the Atlantic Ocean toward the US mainland plus one sneaky unnamed stranger lurking in the Gulf of Mexico off the Texas coast.
No less than ten (and counting) college football games for this weekend have been affected by the expected winds and torrential rainfall from Hurricane Florence. According to the Weather Channel, ol’ Flo (being the genteel Southern lady that she may be) has apparently decided to slow down and sashay to the southwest to enjoy a few days of vacationing along the low country coastal areas of both North and South Carolina before turning inland to do a little shopping uptown in Charlotte before skedaddling the deep South.
OK, I know this is serious stuff. However, after personally dealing with such blustery ladies such as Katrina and Rita and then that lingering house guest named Harvey last year, hurricane season in the South is a time where I find myself glued to the television to watch The Weather Channel’s continuous team coverage. Last night, I believe they showed a picture of at least 16 on-camera meteorologists assigned to do “live” shots from as far south as Charleston, SC trying to catch a glimpse of Hurricane Florence.
A true weather geek knows that it is “Showtime!” when we finally see Jim Cantore and Mike Seidel don the rain gear, goggles, and mikes to bring us the sights and sounds during the worst possible weather conditions as the center of these tropical systems finally comes ashore. Watching Cantore and Seidel hanging on for dear life (safely, of course) for over twenty years has become must-see TV and, for me, marks my psychological end to another summer of brutally hot weather.
Wisely, the handful of college gridiron games from Virginia to Georgia are being rescheduled, relocated, or cancelled this weekend. Though a match-up of Central Florida at UNC in Chapel Hill might seem like a marquee match-up, it simply isn’t worth the risk to fans, players, and stadium workers.
Despite the approaching hurricane and flooding conditions, Southern hospitality is already on full display as we once again come together to help each other during a time of need.
Over 40,000 electrical service workers are perched in nearby states ready to do their magic to restore power for hundreds of thousands of customers.
Motor speedways in Charlotte, Atlanta, and Bristol (TN) have opened their vast facilities to welcome thousands of families fleeing the storm from along the Atlantic coastline areas.
You also won’t find price gouging in Bristol, Tennessee as their motels are offering rooms priced from $50-$99/night to families getting away from Florence.
The Cajun Navy from Louisiana has made its way to South Carolina prepared to help local officials with water rescues.
Despite all of the damage which will be inflicted by Hurricane Florence, the spirit of cooperation from neighbors helping neighbors is truly inspiring.
Say a prayer for the people being affected by this storm and for the brave workers who will be outside trying to save lives and restore order quickly.
Hang in there, Carolinas. Help is on the way!