Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Monday 28 May 2018

Florida panhandle braces for impact as Alberto approaches

By TAMARA LUSH and RE landfall on or in the vicinity
BECCA SANTANA of the Florida Panhandle
Associated Press on Monday. A subtropical
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) storm like Alberto has a less
— Beaches in Florida were defined and cooler cen-
largely empty ahead of ter than a tropical storm,
Memorial Day as the first and its strongest winds
named storm of the At- are found farther from its
lantic hurricane season, center. Subtropical storms
Subtropical Storm Alberto, can develop into tropical
approached the northern storms, which in turn can
Gulf Coast carrying brisk strengthen into hurricanes.
winds and heavy rain. Forecasters cautioned
The storm disrupted long that heavy rain and tropi-
holiday weekend plans cal storm conditions could
from Pensacola in the Flor- reach the northern Gulf
ida Panhandle to Miami Coast well ahead of the
Beach on Florida’s south- center of Alberto making
eastern edge. Lifeguards landfall. Meanwhile, the
posted red flags along the National Hurricane Center
white sands of Pensacola in Miami discontinued all
Beach, where swimming George Estes tosses sand into storage tubs at a Harrison County Road Department sand bagging storm surge warnings for
and wading were banned location that he will take back to his law office in downtown Gulfport, Miss. most of the state’s penin-
amid high surf and danger- Associated Press sula. Mark Bowen, the Bay
ous conditions. It also trig- directly on the coast in mo- Rough conditions were ex- ing of the possibility of flash County Emergency man-
gered mandatory evacua- bile homes or in recreation pected to roil the seas off flooding. At 5 p.m. EDT Sun- agement director, said at
tions of some small, sparsely vehicle parks. Alberto got the eastern and northern day, Alberto was centered a Sunday afternoon news
populated Gulf Coast bar- an early jump on the 2018 Gulf Coast region through about 165 miles (265 kilo- conference that the con-
rier islands in one Florida hurricane season, which Tuesday. “These swells are meters) west of Tampa and cern isn’t with storm surge
county. The Florida Division doesn’t officially start until likely to cause life-threaten- had maximum sustained due to the timing of land-
of Emergency Manage- June 1. The storm prompt- ing surf and rip current con- winds of 50 mph (85 kph). fall and the tides. He said
ment said in a statement ed Florida, Alabama and ditions,” the National Hurri- Forecasters said Alberto Alberto’s biggest threat
Sunday that a mandatory Mississippi to launch emer- cane Center in Miami said has most recently taken a will be its heavy rains, with
evacuation has been is- gency preparations over in a statement. Gusty show- north-northwest track that forecasts of anywhere from
sued in Franklin County for the weekend amid expec- ers were to begin lashing would bring it over the four to 12 inches (10-30
all barrier islands there and tations Alberto would reach parts of Florida on Sunday, northern Gulf of Mexico centimeters) of rain in some
those in the county living land sometime Monday. and authorities were warn- during the night and make areas.q

Authorities: Flash flood surges through Maryland community

ELLICOTT CITY, Md. (AP) — Maryland’s Patapsco River, EMS agency tweeted that
Flash floods struck a Mary- was stricken by deadly flash water was above the first
land city on Sunday that flooding in July 2016. floor of some buildings.
had been wracked by simi- Authorities said they had no Some residents of Ellicott
lar devastation two years immediate reports of fatali- City told The Baltimore Sun
earlier, prompting emer- ties or injuries. But informa- the flooding appeared to
gency rescues as raging tion was still preliminary and be worse than the 2016
waters engulfed cars and even Maryland Gov. Larry flooding that killed two
rose above the first floor of Hogan, who declared a people and destroyed lo-
some buildings, authorities state of emergency for the cal businesses.
said. flooded community, was The National Weather Ser-
News outlets showed local headed there late Sunday vice said a flash flood warn-
photos and video of the for a firsthand look. ing has been issued for the
turbulent floodwaters cas- Footage of Sunday’s flash area through Sundya eve-
cading down Main Street flooding showed water ning, calling it an “extreme-
in Ellicott City, some 13 surging around cars and ly dangerous situation” and
Water rushes through Main Street in Ellicott City, Md., Sunday,
May 27, 2018. Flash flooding and water rescues are being miles (20 kilometers) west of pickup trucks and coursing urging motorists not to at-
reported in Maryland as heavy rain soaks much of the state. Baltimore. The community over the top of their wheels. tempt to navigate flooded
Associated Press set along the west bank of The Howard County Fire & roads.q