At least 2 dead as Hurricane Nicole weakens as it hits Florida

Editor’s Note: CNN’s continued coverage of the storm can find here.



CNN

Nicole made landfall overnight on Florida’s east coast Thursday, killing at least two people, powering thousands, nearly collapsing buildings and flooding the coast, the first hurricane to hit the U.S. in November in nearly 40 years.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said in a release that two people in Orange County “were electrocuted by downed power lines.”

The threat of tornadoes, combined with strong winds and heavy rain, is expected It continued Thursday in parts of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina after Nicole reached a Category 1 intensity and weakened to a tropical depression. However, all tropical storm and storm surge warnings have been discontinued.

Meanwhile, the community is assessing the damage.

At least 49 waterfront buildings, including 24 hotels and condos, were deemed “unsafe” after Hurricane Nicole, officials said in a news release. “The structural damage on our coastline is unprecedented,” County Manager George Recktenwald said in a news release. “We have never experienced anything like this before, so we ask for your patience as we conduct our assessment.

Eleven other structures on the coast of Daytona Beach have been deemed damaged, according to Recktenwald.

Volusia County officials have “declared a curfew for merged and non-merged areas east of the Inland Waterway beginning at 11:22 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 11. From 7 a.m. to Friday, Nov. 10. 11,” Volusia County Storm Update Say.

The latest news is that 200 residents have been placed in county-level shelters. Three shelters remain open. About 23,000 customers in the county were without power, according to PowerOutage.us.

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In Indian River County, officials will “evaluate debris and information clearance plans” Thursday morning, spokeswoman Kathy Copeland said. in St. Spokesman Eric Gill said so far, “no serious damage or injury has been reported”, adding that “the biggest impact is likely to be beach erosion.”

At 10 p.m. ET Thursday, Nican was centered about 20 miles north of Tallahassee with sustained winds of 35 mph, moving northwest at 15 mph.

Eastern, central and northern Florida could receive up to 8 inches of rain through Saturday. Heights of 2 to 6 inches are expected from the southeastern U.S. to the southern and central Appalachians and parts of the western mid-Atlantic, the hurricane center said.

Nicole weakened to a tropical storm shortly after making landfall before becoming a depression late Thursday. It is expected to be a post-tropical cyclone in the southeast.

Here’s what to know for now:

Residents outside of Florida should now prepare: Nearly 3 million people are under tornado watch in parts of southeastern Georgia, eastern and southern South Carolina, and southern North Carolina. “Given the uncertainty about the intensity and path of the storm as it approaches South Carolina, residents need to have their personal contingency plans ready in case we need to take safety precautions later in the week,” state Superintendent Kinsten said. Sen said the Emergency Management Section.

Tens of thousands without electricity: More than 237,000 homes and businesses in Florida lost power late Thursday, according to PowerOutage.us.

Low tide limits storm surge: Nicole’s peak winds coincided with low tide, limiting storm surge and shore flooding. In Port Canaveral, at around 4 a.m. ET, the surge was measured at a height of less than 6 feet after making landfall.The surge dropped to about 3 feet late Thursday morning, but water levels are expected to remain high during high tide between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Nicole's storm surge pushed toward East Boynton Beach, Florida on Wednesday.

King Tide puts buildings at risk: Volusia County Emergency Management officials said King Tide, which affected Volusia County on Thursday morning, was “very concerned about the potential for further damage to the structure.” King Tides is a term used to describe higher than normal tidal cycles, usually occurring during new or full moons, when the moon is closest to Earth. When they coincide with severe weather including heavy rain, high winds and waves, they can cause severe flooding. King tides are becoming more frequent and severe due to rising sea levels.

Flight Cancellations and School Closures: The storm’s massive path closed many schools, colleges and universities, canceled hundreds of flights and closed amusement parks.Orlando International Airport ceased operations Wednesday afternoon, Miami International Airport Warning canceled But not going to close.

Historical hurricanes: Nicole’s landfall on Thursday was the latest in a calendar year for a hurricane to hit Florida’s Atlantic coast. It broke the record set by the Yankee Hurricane that hit Florida’s east coast on November 4, 1935.

Where the storm hit: The National Hurricane Center said the storm struck south of Vero Beach with winds of 75 mph before weakening rapidly. Its strong winds, downpours and storm surge hit some areas hit by Hurricane Ian in September. Nicole brought strong winds and a dangerous storm surge to the northwest Bahamas on Wednesday.



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