Lane reversals on two South Carolina major highways are starting early Tuesday after Gov. Henry McMaster ordered evacuations along state's entire 187-mile coastline so residents and tourists can get out of Hurricane Florence's potentially devastating path.

The eastbound lanes of Interstate 26 from Interstate 526 near Charleston to I-77 near Columbia will close starting at 5 a.m. Tuesday, the S.C. Highway Patrol said.

To the north near Myrtle Beach, eastbound lanes of U.S. 501 between S.C. 22 and S.C. 576 will close starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday for lane reversals, state transportation officials said.

Traffic on all lanes of both major highways will flow westward at noon, the same time McMaster ordered the evacuation of one out of every five South Carolinians, about 1 million in all, from areas in eight coastal counties.

Schools and state offices in 26 counties as far inland as Lexington in the Midlands will close as of Tuesday, enabling schools to serve as emergency shelters and making school buses available for evacuations.

"People, we need to prepare," McMaster said during a briefing at the state's emergency management center in West Columbia. "This one is particularly big, particularly strong. ... We don't want to gamble with a single South Carolina life."

While McMaster called the evacuation mandatory, officers cannot physically remove people from their homes. But those who stay behind should know that first responders might not be able to reach them immediately or at all in case of an emergency.

Most of South Carolina's coast remains in Florence's cone of uncertainty, raising the possibility of the state's first major hurricane strike in nearly three decades.

By midday Monday, the hurricane blew winds near 130 mph, reaching Category 4 strength capable of devastating damage. Forecasters expect Florence to make landfall somewhere near Wilmington, N.C., before sunrise on Friday with winds as strong as 120 mph.

In South Carolina, Horry County, home of Myrtle Beach in the northeast corner of the state, is the focus of storm activity while bracing for what emergency officials called Monday "an unprecedented event" and "a very dire situation."

"There's no scenario that we can see so far that will take this away from us like most recent storms," Horry County Emergency Management Director Randy Webster said during a briefing. "If we take the hit that we are expecting, this will not be like the past (where) 24, 48 hours and everything is back to normal. This will be remembered with Hugo and Hazel," the Myrtle Beach area's worst-ever hurricanes.

Horry County's population has doubled since Hugo destroyed piers, smashed homes and left thousands without power for days in 1989.

Even with four evacuation routes and fewer vacationers than during the summer peak season, it's likely to take more than a day to empty the homes, businesses and hotels around Myrtle Beach, said Gina Vasselli, a spokeswoman for Horry County Emergency Management.

"It takes a considerable amount of time," she said.

About 3,000 state transportation workers are ready to deploy if needed to fix roads and bridges. Some 440 state law enforcement officers are already on the coast to secure homes and businesses left by evacuees along with 1,600 National Guard soldiers. The number of guard soldiers is expected to double as Florence arrives.

“Lawlessness during this period of time will not be tolerated," State Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel said.

Some of the 19 hospitals in the evacuation zones are seeking exemptions so they do not have to move patients, said Tommy Crosby, a spokesman with the state's Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Last September, McMaster ordered evacuations on seven barrier islands along the state's southern coastline — including Hilton Head Island — to escape the storm surges of Hurricane Irma, which hit Florida. That order affected about 44,500 residents.

President Donald Trump asked people in Florence's path to heed warnings of state and local emergency officials.

"To the incredible citizens of North Carolina, South Carolina and the entire East Coast — the storm looks very bad! Please take all necessary precautions," Trump tweeted with a short video of the large swirling storm. "We have already began mobilizing our assets to respond accordingly, and we are here for you!"

Most of South Carolina's coast was evacuated in October 2016 when Hurricane Matthew skirted the shoreline before coming ashore just north of Charleston with winds of 75 mph.

A year earlier, much-feared Hurricane Joaquin missed the East Coast but fueled what experts called a "fire hose" of tropical moisture that aimed directly at South Carolina, dumping up to 2 feet of rain over several days and killing 19, most of them in the Columbia area. The last major hurricane to hit South Carolina was Hugo in September 1989. It came ashore just north of Charleston with winds of 135 mph, causing 13 deaths in the state and $6.5 billion in damage in 1989 dollars. With Florence speeding up, McMaster declared a state of emergency Saturday, which allowed the state to begin putting hurricane preparations into effect and allowed the governor to use the National Guard and deploy law enforcement officers. The declaration also triggered South Carolina's anti-price-gouging law, which remains in effect until the emergency status ends. Taking advantage of the storm by unfairly hiking prices for food, gasoline, hotel rooms or other needs is a misdemeanor punishable by a $1,000 fine and 30 days in jail, Attorney General Alan Wilson said. On Sunday, McMaster asked the Trump administration to declare an emergency, which would allow federal money to flow to the state in direct help and reimbursements to state agencies soon after the storm passes. The lane reversals allow McMaster, who is seeking his first full term in November, to avoid the traffic nightmares on I-26 when Gov. Jim Hodges ordered an evacuation in advance of Hurricane Floyd in September 1999. It took drivers up to nine hours to reach Columbia. State officials have been practicing the lane reversals ever since that fiasco, which contributed to Hodges' loss in 2002. Gov. Nikki Haley's 2016 order for Hurricane Matthew marked the first time those practice drills were put into use. Officials called it a success, with traffic steadily moving at up to 70 mph. Andy Shain, Andrew Brown and Andrew Knapp contributed.</s>"The White House has been in contact with governors’ offices and local authorities in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Hawaii, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York," Sanders said. Lines of communication remain open and the US federal government stands ready to assist, Sanders added.

In addition, Sanders said President Donald Trump will receive a briefing from Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Brock Long regarding the upcoming storms that are threatening the United States.

Earlier on Monday, the National Weather Service said Hurricane Florence has strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane, with winds near 130 miles per hour, and is expected to approach the coast of South Carolina or North Carolina on Thursday.

The weather service is also reporting two other hurricanes, Isaac and Helene, lingering behind Hurricane Florence. However, there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

Meanwhile, Authorities in the US state of South Carolina ordered a mandatory evacuation for coastal counties ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Florence, the state Governor’s office said. "Governor Henry McMaster, in coordination with local officials, has issued Executive Order 2018-29, which orders the evacuation of coastal South Carolina residents for their personal safety as Hurricane Florence approaches," the governor's office said in a statement on Monday.

READ MORE: ‘Big Waves Coming’: Florence to Be Hurricane, Threatens Wide Swath of US Coast

Residents in all hurricane evacuation zones should evacuate by no later than noon local time on Tuesday, the statement said. The governor has also ordered the closure of schools in the 26 affected counties, it added.</s>Evacuations have been ordered across Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina on Monday and Tuesday, as Hurricane Florence approaches the US for a potentially record-breaking landfall.

Governors from the three states in the storm's path issued harsh warnings for citizens to evacuate immediately, causing a harried scene among stores and communities to prepare for the possibly devastating storm.

Here's what it looks like on the ground:

Hurricane Florence has been showering the Carolinas and Virginia with rain before it's set to make record-breaking landfall in North Carolina later this week.

Some citizens weathered the very early signs of the storm with ease, but reports and warnings from public officials are painting an increasingly dangerous picture.

Coastal counties in Virginia, South and North Carolina were all under mandatory evacuation as of Tuesday afternoon.

After urging from state officials, citizens in coastal communities of the Carolinas sought precautionary measures.

Vulnerable residents got plywood and sand bags to protect their properties, like these North Carolina residents who gathered sand from the beach Tuesday morning as the hurricane was set to make landfall over the state.

Residents also set out for other supplies, including water ...

The rush to prepare with basic supplies left stores' shelves bare.

South Carolina Highway Patrol was on hand to direct traffic along the major roadways Gov. Henry McMaster announced would have reversed lanes to guide traffic away from the coast and assist the mass exodus.

Some South Carolina landmarks, like the Surfside Beach Pier, still show signs of damage from 2016's Hurricane Matthew. McMaster warned Florence's water damage could surpass that storm.

Airmen from South Carolina's National Guard helped with the preparations — just a few of the 1,600 soldiers and airmen who were mobilized to assist with the storm.

Current predictions say Hurricane Florence could be the most powerful storm to make landfall in North Carolina, as no Category 4 hurricane has ever made landfall in the state.

As of Tuesday afternoon, forecasters are predicting the storm will make landfall in North Carolina on Friday.
• Here's a map of all the areas that could get hit
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• Here's where Hurricane Florence is due to make landfall
• South Carolina's governor is warning Hurricane Florence could bring more wind than Hurricane Hugo and more water than Hurricane Matthew
• Here's what Category 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 labels for hurricanes really mean
• Video from hurricane hunter planes show the eerie calm inside Hurricane Florence as it heads for the US
• We've reached the peak of Atlantic hurricane season — and 3 hurricanes are churning at once
• The 13 most important things you should do to prepare for a hurricane</s>Hurricane Florence is rapidly strengthening and is expected to hit the U.S. east coast later this week as a major hurricane, according to the latest forecasted track.

The storm’s center will move northwest between Bermuda and the Bahamas on Tuesday and Wednesday. It’s expected to become at least a Category 3 hurricane before it hits the mainland U.S. around South Carolina and North Carolina, likely on Friday morning, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Monday.

As of 5 a.m. ET Monday, Hurricane Florence’s center was about 625 miles southeast of Bermuda and was moving west-northwest at a speed of 9 mph. Florence has maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, though that number is likely to increase as the storm strengthens.

The NHC said there is “an increasing risk of life-threatening impacts for Florence,” citing “storm surge at the coast, freshwater flooding from a prolonged and exceptionally heavy rainfall event inland and damaging hurricane force winds.”

Forecasters also warned that large swells, which will cause “life threatening surf and rip currents,” are already hitting Bermuda and parts of the east coast. Forecasters also cautioned that Hurricane Florence will “remain an extremely dangerous hurricane” as it tracks towards the mainland U.S.

Given the storm’s expected track and path, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia have already declared states of emergency as authorities prepare to deal with Hurricane Florence.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said Sunday he was asking President Donald Trump for a federal emergency declaration in anticipation of “significant impacts not only on our state but the entire east coast.”

“Pretend, assume, presume that a major hurricane is going to hit right smack dab in the middle of South Carolina and is going to go way inshore,” McMaster said at a press conference.</s>Holden Beach, NC: The powerful Hurricane Florence threatened to bring "days and days" of rain and potentially deadly flooding to the US southeast coast, North Carolina's governor warned on Tuesday, as some 1 million people were ordered to evacuate their homes.

The storm threatened to hit coastal North and South Carolina with 215 kph winds and massive waves when it makes landfall on Friday, and its rains will take a heavy toll for miles inland, the National Hurricane Centre in Miami warned.

The storm was getting bigger and better organised and is expected to continue to strengthen for the next day or so, the NHC said.

"This storm is a monster," North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said at a news conference on Tuesday. "It's an extremely dangerous, life-threatening, historic hurricane ... the forecast shows Florence stalling over North Carolina, bringing days and days of rain."</s>A satellite image taken the morning of September 10, 2018, shows Hurricane Florence off the US East Coast in the Atantic Ocean.

A coastal North Carolina county on Monday issued a mandatory evacuation order for its entire population as a Hurricane Florence strengthened to a Category 3 storm and continued its slow but angry dance toward the U.S. East Coast.

The National Hurricane Center said Florence is expected to slam into the coast around North and South Carolina as a Category 3 or 4 hurricane on Thursday or Friday. The storm's winds had increased to 115 mph on Monday.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said he had asked President Trump for a federal disaster declaration ahead of the storm.

"We here in North Carolina are bracing for a hart hit," Cooper said Monday. "We are taking Hurricane Florence seriously."

Dare County officials ordered everyone to leave Hatteras Island on Monday. Residents and visitors in popular tourist spots such as Duck and Corolla faced a Tuesday deadline.

"Everyone in Dare County is encouraged to evacuate as soon as possible regardless of the established time frames," the county announced.

Dare County has a year-round population of more than 30,000 people, but the population balloons during tourist seasons. It was not immediately clear how many people.

The hurricane center said the storm was expected to continue growing in strength through the day. The center of Florence was forecast to sweep between Bermuda and the Bahamas on Tuesday and Wednesday before making its assault on the U.S. coast.

"Florence is forecast to become a major hurricane this morning, and is expected to remain an extremely dangerous major hurricane through Thursday," the hurricane center warned.

More: Despite 2017 hurricane season, US lacks 'culture of preparedness'

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The hurricane center warned that the swells are likely to cause "life-threatening" surf and current conditions. Even before the evacuation order, Dare County emergency officials warned that rough seas and strong rip currents are already creating dangerous conditions.

"Red, no swimming flags are flying and everyone must stay out of the water," Dare County Emergency Management Director Drew Pearson said.

Satellite imagery indicated that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 105 mph with higher gusts. A "major" hurricane is one with sustained winds of more than 110 mph.

Any Category 3, 4, or 5 hurricane is classified as a major hurricane.

AccuWeather meteorologist Brett Rossi said the ground in North and South Carolina and Virginia is already saturated from recent rains. Rivers are high, and the storm will be moving slowly when it arrives, exacerbating the situation, Rossi told USA TODAY.

"This is very scary rain event potentially setting up this week," Rossi said. "Florence could dump a foot of rain in places that cannot handle it, making for a very scary flooding situation in some areas."

Some portions of the Carolinas could see as much as 20 inches of rain from Florence, the National Weather Service said, which would lead to river flooding that "could last for days or weeks" after the storm. The Weather Channel warned of a "disastrous" level of flooding for parts of the area.

The hurricane center's breakdown of storm strength says Category 3 storms can bring "devastating" destruction. Homes can be damaged, trees uprooted and electricity and water can be knocked out for days or weeks, the center warns.

The Navy said all ships in Virginia's coastal Hampton Roads area were preparing to leave port for open seas Monday. Admiral Christopher Grady said ships can better weather "storms of this magnitude when they are underway."

South Carolina emergency management officials said they were "preparing for the possibility of a large-scale disaster."

Virginia, North and South Carolina have declared states of emergency ahead of the storm.

"The storm is strong and getting stronger," Gov. Roy Cooper said. "The best safety plan is preparation and common sense."

Florence is now one of three hurricanes spinning in the Atlantic Ocean, along with Helene and Isaac. While Helene is forecast to slide out to sea away from land, Isaac is a very real threat the the Caribbean later this week, the hurricane center said.

In addition, in the Pacific, what's now Hurricane Olivia is forecast to approach Hawaii as a tropical storm on Tuesday.</s>More than 1.5 million people were ordered to evacuate their homes along the U.S. Atlantic coast as Hurricane Florence, a Category 4 storm and the most powerful to menace the Carolinas in nearly three decades, barreled in on Tuesday.

Florence, packing winds of 140 miles per hour (220 kph), was expected to grow even stronger before making landfall on Thursday, mostly likely in southeastern North Carolina near the South Carolina border, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

"We are in the bull's eye," North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper told reporters on Monday.

Florence was expected to turn into "an extremely dangerous major hurricane" during Thursday night, the hurricane center said in a bulletin.

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam issued an evacuation order for about 245,000 residents in flood-prone coastal areas beginning at 8 a.m. local time and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster ordered more than 1 million residents along his state's coastline to leave starting at noon on Tuesday.

At least 250,000 more people were due to be evacuated from the northern Outer Banks in North Carolina on Tuesday after more than 50,000 people were ordered on Monday to leave Hatteras and Ocracoke, the southernmost of the state's barrier islands.

North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Maryland governors have declared states of emergency.

Authorities warned of life-threatening coastal storm surges and the potential for Florence to unleash prolonged torrential rains and widespread flooding, especially if it lingers inland for several days.

NHC Director Ken Graham warned of "staggering" amounts of rainfall that may extend hundreds of miles inland and cause flash flooding across the mid-Atlantic region.

Forecasts expect 10 to 15 inches (25-38 cm) of rain in the hardest-hit areas, possibly more if the storm stalls over land, as expected, Graham said.

Mindful of devastation wrought by a string of deadly U.S. hurricanes last year, residents in the Carolinas began the rituals of disaster preparation - boarding up windows and stocking up on groceries, water and gasoline.

Classified as a Category 4 on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane strength, Florence was the most severe storm to threaten the U.S. mainland this year and the first of its magnitude to target the Carolinas since 1989, when Hurricane Hugo barreled over Charleston, South Carolina.

In Holden Beach, North Carolina, in the storm's path, longtime residents were busy securing their homes and possessions.

"It's scary to all of us. We know we can't play around with this," said Jennifer Oosterwyk, who owns the Sugar Britches boutique on Holden Beach and lives in nearby Wilmington.</s>HOLDEN BEACH, N.C. (Reuters) - More than 1.5 million people were ordered to evacuate their homes along the U.S. Atlantic coast as Hurricane Florence, a Category 4 storm and the most powerful to menace the Carolinas in nearly three decades, barreled in on Tuesday.

Florence, packing winds of 140 miles per hour (220 kph), was expected to grow even stronger before making landfall on Thursday, mostly likely in southeastern North Carolina near the South Carolina border, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

“We are in the bull’s eye,” North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper told reporters on Monday.

Florence was expected to turn into “an extremely dangerous major hurricane” during Thursday night, the hurricane center said in a bulletin.

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam issued an evacuation order for about 245,000 residents in flood-prone coastal areas beginning at 8 a.m. local time and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster ordered more than 1 million residents along his state’s coastline to leave starting at noon on Tuesday.

At least 250,000 more people were due to be evacuated from the northern Outer Banks in North Carolina on Tuesday after more than 50,000 people were ordered on Monday to leave Hatteras and Ocracoke, the southernmost of the state’s barrier islands.

North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Maryland governors have declared states of emergency.

Authorities warned of life-threatening coastal storm surges and the potential for Florence to unleash prolonged torrential rains and widespread flooding, especially if it lingers inland for several days.

NHC Director Ken Graham warned of “staggering” amounts of rainfall that may extend hundreds of miles inland and cause flash flooding across the mid-Atlantic region.

Forecasts expect 10 to 15 inches (25-38 cm) of rain in the hardest-hit areas, possibly more if the storm stalls over land, as expected, Graham said.

Mindful of devastation wrought by a string of deadly U.S. hurricanes last year, residents in the Carolinas began the rituals of disaster preparation - boarding up windows and stocking up on groceries, water and gasoline.

Classified as a Category 4 on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane strength, Florence was the most severe storm to threaten the U.S. mainland this year and the first of its magnitude to target the Carolinas since 1989, when Hurricane Hugo barreled over Charleston, South Carolina.

In Holden Beach, North Carolina, in the storm’s path, longtime residents were busy securing their homes and possessions.

“It’s scary to all of us. We know we can’t play around with this,” said Jennifer Oosterwyk, who owns the Sugar Britches boutique on Holden Beach and lives in nearby Wilmington.</s>Rapidly intensifying Hurricane Florence could strike a direct and dangerous blow anywhere from the Carolinas to the Mid-Atlantic region later this week.

Florence crossed the 74 mph threshold from tropical storm to a hurricane Sunday morning, and by evening its winds were up to 85 mph (140 kph) as the National Hurricane Center warned a hurricane hunter plane found the storm strengthening quickly. Forecasters said Florence was expected to become an extremely dangerous major hurricane sometime Monday and remain that way for days.

As of 11 p.m. EDT, Florence was centered about 685 miles (1,100 kilometers) southeast of Bermuda, moving west at 7 mph (11 kmh). Its maximum sustained winds are at 90 mph (150 kmh). Drawing energy from the warm water, it could be a fearsome Category 4 with winds of 130 mph (209 kph) or more by Tuesday, the Miami-based center said.

Forecasters said it is too early to know the exact path the storm will take but warned that it could roll ashore in the Carolinas by Thursday. But authorities were taking no chances as the governors of North and South Carolina and Virginia declared states of emergency far ahead of the approaching storm.

Navy ships off Virginia's coast are getting set to sail out of the path of the powerful hurricane, one North Carolina university has canceled classes and people have begun stocking up on plywood, bottled water and other supplies even with Florence still far out at sea southeast of Bermuda.

People up and down the densely populated coast were told to be ready for the worst — and not just for a possible direct blow against the coast. They warned that Florence could slow or stall on or near shore, with some forecasting models showing it could unload a foot or two of rain in places, causing devastating inland flooding. Forecasters also warned of a rising threat of life-threatening storm surge, along with the damage of a hurricane's high winds.

Red flags flying on beaches warned swimmers to stay out of waters as seas began kicking up. People rushed to get emergency kits ready, map out escape routes and fill sandbags and secure their homes.

"Pretend, assume, presume that a major hurricane is going to hit right smack dab in the middle of South Carolina and is going to go way inshore," South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said. The state's emergency management agency said it is "preparing for the possibility of a large-scale disaster."

In Charleston, South Carolina, along the coast, city officials offered sandbags to residents. Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune urged people to secure their homes but said it was too early to know if evacuations will be ordered.

Myrtle Beach hardware stores and supermarkets were busy ringing up sales of bottled water, plywood and generators.

"Literally, they are filling buggies full of water, shopping carts full of water," Ryan Deeck, grocery department manager at a Walmart, told The Sun News. "They're coming in and buying water and plates, and that's about all they're buying."

In Jacksonville, North Carolina, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the coast, some residents picked up hurricane supplies during their normal weekend shopping, The Daily News reported. Ilija Cesal told the newspaper he wouldn't worry about buying extra water or other supplies for a few more days.

"I'll see by Wednesday how that goes — we got over 48 hours before that happens," Cesal said.

As Hurricane Florence approaches the East Coast, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington canceled classes and encouraged its students to leave campus for a safer location.

In southeast Virginia, Naval Station Norfolk told its employees they should not leave their vehicles parked at the sprawling base in coming days because of the flood threat. The Navy planned to send ships from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia out to sea.

Bynum reported from Savannah, Georgia. AP writers Sarah Rankin in Richmond, Virginia, and Gary Fineout in Tallahassee, Florida, contributed to this story.

This story has been corrected to show that Hurricane Florence is no longer a tropical storm.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>Powerful Hurricane Florence was tracking towards the US East Coast Tuesday, prompting authorities to order upwards of one million people to evacuate the path of the extremely dangerous storm forecasters said could soon intensify.

Residents scrambled to flee en masse as the menacing Category 4 storm packing winds of 220 kilometers per hour bore down on the East Coast of the United States.

"This is one of the worst storms to hit the East Coast in many years," President Donald Trump warned on Twitter. "Please be prepared, be careful and be SAFE!"

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster ordered as many as one million residents of the state's eastern coast to leave their homes ahead of the storm's possible arrival on Thursday. Schools in 26 of the state's 46 counties were to close from Tuesday.

The governor of neighboring North Carolina ordered an evacuation of the Outer Banks, barrier islands that are a popular tourist destination, and parts of coastal Dare County, while a state of emergency was declared in Virginia.

"This is a very dangerous hurricane," McMaster said, adding that the evacuation order for coastal counties was "mandatory, not voluntary."

"We do not want to risk one South Carolina life in this hurricane," the governor told reporters. "We're liable to have a whole lot of flooding."
Hurricane Florence regains strength to a category 4 major hurricane and is expected to threaten the East Coast of the United States near the Carolinas in the coming days, with the potential for a category 4 or 5 landfall with very large rainfall totals. Preparations are underway for evacuation of around 1 million coastal inhabitants of South Carolina.