The hurricane will drift slowly across the Atlantic as a tropical storm before moving across the ocean, dumping steady rain on southeastern Georgia and the Carolinas on Tuesday and Wednesday, before moving inland into South Carolina on Thursday.
Historic rainfall amounts are likely to cause massive flooding in the region, and storm surges along the coast could trap water in river systems and prevent it from draining to the sea.
Before the storm made landfall, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 61 of Florida’s 67 counties. He also said utility crews across the state and beyond were ready to help restore power after the storm.
DeSantis isn't the only one bracing for the worst. People across the state are bracing for the worst.
Spiridon Iveheris told USA Today that his Kitten Beach home was renovated two weeks ago after Hurricane Idalia, a Category 3 storm that made landfall last summer.
“Oh my gosh, I’ve done this so many times,” Aibejeris said. “Just go back and see what to do.”
“I never want to go back to that,” he added.
