By Emily Miller
As tropical storm Arthur strengths, several east coast states are on guard for potential severe weather conditions this upcoming Fourth of July weekend.
The storm’s maximum sustained winds strengthened overnight to 60 mph.
Arthur is moving up the Atlantic Ocean near the coast of Florida today, and will likely become a hurricane by Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for all of coastal North Carolina with a hurricane watch for the section of the state that juts in the Atlantic – from Bogue inlet to Oregon inlet; a watch for Florida has been cancelled.
The National Weather Service predicts that Arthur will achieve hurricane status Thursday, July 3rd, as it approaches the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Northeast states are predicted to only see rain this weekend, and probably won’t see a hurricane. There’s a 60 percent chance of rain on Friday for the state of New York; however, the rest of the weekend is predicted to be clear and sunny.
Minor flooding may occur in the northeast.
Lifeguards in Florida have sectioned off certain beaches as high risk to warn visitors of rough surf and rip currents.
On North Carolina’s Outer Banks, officials will be closing the Cape Lookout National Seashore this evening as a safety precaution and will reopen once it is safe.
If you are curious on how to prepare yourself for a natural disaster, look towards FEMA’s website Ready.gov.
Since hurricane season is gearing up, it is advisable to review your current homeowner’s insurance policy to better understand the amount you will receive in the event of a natural disaster and what qualifies as a natural disaster.
Some policies may not cover loss due to flooding, but additional coverage can be purchased through the Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA.
Industry professional also encourage policy owners to include your company’s toll free claim number and insurance agent’s phone number in your emergency kit.
