Tuesday, August 11, 2020
Hurricane Isaias initiated North Carolina's hurricane season last week, leaving power outages and wreckage in its wake. As forecasters predict an "extremely active" season, the pandemic will only complicate management efforts even further.
Hurricane Isaias made landfall last week with 90 mph winds, leaving over 3 million people without power from the Carolinas to the Northeast.
From Florence and Fran to Hugo and Hazel, North Carolina is no stranger to hurricanes. As these storms grow more frequent and more severe with climate change, the need for preparation and foresight is critical.
With the added complications of the pandemic, how will Charlotte prepare for and manage these deadly storms? Can the city, which is about 150 miles inland, respond to floods and dangerous winds while social distancing?
As 2020 has been labeled “extremely active” for the Atlantic hurricane season, we’re joined by a local meteorologist and Charlotte’s emergency planners who dictate what happens when disaster strikes.
GUESTS
Brad Panovich, chief meteorologist for NBC Charlotte
Chief Robert Graham, deputy director of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management
Hannah Sanborn, emergency management planner and public information officer for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management