East Coast Braces for Floods and Wind as Isaias Intensifies

ATLANTA — Tens of millions of Americans were warned on Monday to brace themselves for the threat of flooding, power outages and downed trees as Hurricane Isaias intensified while moving up the Atlantic Coast.

On the coast of the Carolinas, residents were preparing for the Category 1 storm’s arrival on Monday night, boarding up their windows and stocking up on generators, flashlights and gas cans. Farther inland, in North Carolina and Maryland, officials said that flooding would be one of the storm’s most perilous risks.

The storm is expected to soak much of the East Coast in the coming days, prompting state officials to caution residents that they must prepare for heavy rainfall and powerful winds while remaining vigilant against the coronavirus.

“I know that North Carolinians have had to dig deep in recent months to tap into our strength and resilience during the pandemic, and that hasn’t been easy,” Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina said. “But with this storm on the way, we have to dig a little deeper. Let’s keep each other safe from the wind and water as well as from the virus.”