Hurricane Florence: How to prepare for the "monster" storm

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Hurricane Florence is expected to pummel the East Coast later this week with catastrophic flooding and damaging winds, most likely taking direct aim at the Carolinas up through Virginia. With mandatory evacuations already issued for parts of three states, millions of Americans are preparing for what could become one of the most damaging hurricanes to hit the Eastern Seaboard in decades.

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Florence could be the strongest storm to hit North Carolina since Hazel in 1954, which packed winds of 130 mph (209 kph). That Category 4 storm destroyed 15,000 buildings and killed 19 people in North Carolina. In the six decades since then, many thousands more people have moved to the coast.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper warned in a news conference Tuesday that Florence could be a once-in-a-lifetime type of storm.

"This is storm is a monster," Cooper said. "Even if you've ridden out storms before, this one is different. Don't bet your life on riding out a monster."

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The massive storm is forecast to make landfall along a stretch of coastline already saturated by rising seas and then meander Thursday, Friday and Saturday, inundating several states with life-threatening floods. Seven-day rainfall totals are forecast to reach 10 to 20 inches over much of North Carolina and Virginia, and even 30 inches in some places.

Mandatory evacuations have already been ordered for North Carolina's Outer Banks and low-lying coastal areas of South Carolina and Virginia.

CBS News rounded up some emergency preparedness tips for people and pets as well as a supplies checklist before Hurricane Florence arrives.

Much more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hurricane-florence-north-carolina-south-supplies-checklist-pets-tips/?ftag=MSFd61514f