Ernesto, water wings and buffalo creek
((Audio below))
I’m just back from a news conference with Gov. Mike Easley who says we should be on the look out for Ernesto, a tropical storm that probably has a chip on its shoulder because it’ll be 4 M.P.H. shy of a hurricane when it lands tonight.
Specific for Greensboro, Easley said state emergency officials expected Buffalo Creek to flood somewhat as the Ernesto cuts through the state. So if you’re in an area that has problems when Buffalo Creek gets too full up, expect some problems over the next day or so.
Oddly enough, your Labor Day beach plans are probably solid, since the storm is expected to miss all by a sliver of the N.C. Coast. It's the center part of the state, from Greensboro to New Bern, that looks to be in for most of whatever mess happens.
More to come, including audio, as soon as I get it sorted out.
Updates:
- Click here for the news release from Easley.
- The audio from this morning's briefing is about 15 minutes. Click here to download and listen.
- Easley: “The national weather service has identified some areas where they do expect guaranteed flooding … Buffalo Creek in Greensboro, in the Triad … all urban creeks are expected to have some flooding, that is those smaller creeks in urban centers as the runoff gets to them …”
- Ealsey: “Please pay attention to flooded waters and don’t try to drive through them.”
- Click here for some mpas of the North Buffalo Creek watershed from the USGS.