North Carolina beaches prepare for Hurricane ian

TO WARN PEOPLE IN CASE OF FLOODING OR LANDSLIDES. >> OUR SOUTH FACING BEACHES ARE GEARING UP FOR STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY RAINS ARE LOOKING LIVE RIGHT NOW AT CAROLINA BEACH. ALREADY THE SURF LOOKS VERY ROUGH THERE. ANOTHER BEACH IMPACTED KEEPING THEIR EYES ON. IAN IS OCEAN ISLE BEACH IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY. WRAL’S CHELSEA DONOVAN IS JOINING US THERE LIVE ON THE PIER WITH THE LATEST CONDITIONS. CHELSEA. >> YEAH, WE KNOW IS ABOUT 2 HOURS AGO WHEN WE REALLY STARTED TO SEE THE CONDITIONS DETERIORATING, THAT WIND STARTING TO PICK UP AND NOW WE’RE GETTING A GOOD, STEADY RAIN. YOU CAN SEE THE WAVES CHURNING BELOW ME HERE AS WE LOOK DOWN HERE FROM THE OCEAN ISLE TO RUN OUT OCEAN ISLE BEACH IS NO STRANGER TO HURRICANES. 2 YEARS AGO, THEY DEALT WITH THE DEVASTATING FLOODS AND FIRES. THAT WAS COURTESY OF THAT HURRICANE. THE SCIENCE. >> NURSE ALSO FLEW 1700 MILES FROM DENVER, STEPPED FOOT ON THIS SPEECH, WERE GOING TO TRY TO MAKE THE BEST OF IT. BUT I THINK THAT IT KIND OF PUTS A DAMPENER ON THE PLANS TO HANG OUT ON THE BEACH. 25 FAMILY MEMBERS ARE GATHERED HERE IN OCEAN ISLE FOR A FAMILY REUNION. IAN NOW AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS MEMORABLE TIME, I THINK WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PUZZLES. A LOT OF CARD GAMES. THE STATUES ARE STRAPPED DOWN THE BOATS AND GOLF CARTS ARE BEING LOADED OFF TO THE MAINLAND AND PREPS FOR EONS. REMNANTS ARE UNDER WAY ON THIS 7 MILES SOUTH FACING THE SHOW WHERE BAHAM MAKE SURE OUR ALL OF OUR GENERATORS ARE UP AND RUNNING IN CASE WE NEED THEM FOR EMERGENCY POWER. WE HAVE BUILT SOME WE’RE IN FOR SOME GOOD AND SOME PARTIAL. >> WILL NOT BE STUNNED TO BE IN CASE THE WATER RISES. MAYOR DEBBIE SMITH SAYS THE TOWN IS READY FOR STORM SURGE FROM TOMORROW’S HIGH TIDE AS WELL AS HEAVY WINDS AND POSSIBLE FLOODING. THAT BRIDGE WILL CLOSE AT THAT WIND GETS TO WIN DAY. THAT HAPPENS AT 50 MILES PER HOUR SUSTAINED KEEPING VISITORS AND RESIDENTS STATIONED ON THE ISLAND. >> FOR NOW, IT’S GETTING THAT LAST MINUTE BEACH STROLL. WATCH. WAIT AND PREPARE FOR A WEEKEND INDOORS. WE’RE DEFINITELY ENJOYING THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM. SO BEFORE IT REALLY GETS COMING DOWN. >> PROBABLY NOT A GOOD TIME TO TAKE THAT BEACHWALK NOW. NOW THE TOWN IS ASKING ALL OF THE RESIDENTS HERE TO GO AHEAD TONIGHT AND SECURE THAT OUTDOOR FURNITURE AND THOSE GARBAGE CANS. WE UNDERSTAND IN TALKING WITH POLICE THIS AFTERNOON, THEY’RE MAKING THEIR ROUNDS TO TO HELP FACILITATE THAT AS SO MANY FOLKS DON’T LIVE HERE AND THEY LIVE OUT OF TOWN. SO WE’RE WATCHING THE CONDITIONS HERE FOR MOTION. I’LL SEND IT BACK TO YOU. CERTAINLY THE PEOPLE WHO DO LIVE THERE, THEY’RE USED TO THIS, BUT IT STILL TRAUMATIC FOR THEM HAVING GONE THROUGH THIS SO MANY TIMES.