WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 11th September, 2018) 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.
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.
Earlier on Monday, Florence strengthened to a Category 4 Hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 130 miles per hour.
The storm is expected to pass between Bermuda and the Bahamas on Tuesday and Wednesday, and approach the South Carolina and North Carolina coast by late Thursday or early Friday.
