As people evacuate before hurricane, zoo animals move inside

ASHEBORO, NC -- As 1.7 million people were urged to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Florence, workers at the North Carolina Zoo were trying to figure out what to do with 1,600 animals.Staff at the 500-acre zoo near Asheboro rushed Wednesday to move elephants, giraffes, chimpanzees and hundreds of other species indoors to protect them from the storm's predicted formidable winds and torrential rain.Spokeswoman Diane Villa said some of the larger animals — including bison and elk — will be put in fenced-in yards because they don't like being in fully enclosed spaces.But many other animals will be kept in barns.A crew of zookeepers, veterinarians and park rangers will ride out the storm with the animals.The zoo, located about 75 miles west of Raleigh, has 500 acres set aside for its animals, making it the world's largest "walk through" natural habitat zoo, Villa said.The animals usually have lots of room to roam, but as the storm approached, they were being moved to more confined habitats."Most of the animals, they do know how to take care of themselves," Villa said. "The ones we're concerned about are being cared for inside."That includes two chimpanzees named Ruthie and Nori who need to take medication on a regular schedule.

MillerCoors delivering 200K cans of water to hurricane victims

MILWAUKEE -- MillerCoors announced Wednesday, Sept. 12 they're sending 200,000 cans of water to those impacted by Hurricane Florence.According to a news release, in partnership with the American Red Cross and area food banks, the water will be distributed at the Red Cross and community shelters.“We hope this water donation provides some relief and comfort to residents and first responders in Hurricane Florence’s path,” said Karina Diehl, MillerCoors Senior Director for National Community Affairs. “It’s a MillerCoors priority to do our part in helping the communities where our consumers, employees and distributors call home.”The water will be sent on 80 pallets.

'Time to get out:' Travelers arrive from Raleigh ahead of Florence

MILWAUKEE -- FOX6 News spoke with travelers as they stepped off a plane from Raleigh, North Carolina Tuesday, Sept. 11, many of them fleeing areas expected to be hit hardest by Hurricane Florence when it makes landfall Thursday.Everyone we spoke with said grocery stores and gas stations were running short on supplies.

'Big and vicious:' Category 4 Hurricane Florence closes in on Carolinas

RALEIGH, N.C. — Motorists streamed inland on highways converted to one-way evacuation routes Tuesday as about 1.7 million people in three states were warned to get out of the way of Hurricane Florence, a hair-raising storm taking dead aim at the Carolinas with 130 mph winds and potentially ruinous rains.Florence was expected to blow ashore late Thursday or early Friday, then slow down and wring itself out for days, unloading 1 to 2½ feet of rain that could cause flooding well inland and wreak environmental havoc by washing over industrial waste sites and hog farms.

Florence becomes a hurricane, takes aim at US Southeast

ATLANTA — Tropical Storm Florence turned into a hurricane Sunday morning and swirled toward the U.S. for what forecasters said could be a direct hit on the Southeast toward the end of the week.The storm's sustained winds reached 75 mph (121 kph), just over the threshold for a hurricane, as it made its way across the Atlantic, about 750 miles (1,210 kilometers) southeast of Bermuda, the National Hurricane Center said.

Tropical Storm Florence continues its churn toward US coast

MIAMI — Tropical Storm Florence is becoming a "better organized" weather system that will likely strengthen into a hurricane late Saturday, weather forecasters said.The National Hurricane Center said Saturday the storm was expected to become a "major hurricane" by Tuesday as it passes between Bermuda and the Bahamas on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Houston mayor: Recovery from Harvey not fast enough

HOUSTON — Six months after Hurricane Harvey's flooding wreaked havoc in Houston, recovery efforts in the United States' fourth-largest city aren't "happening fast enough," Houston's mayor said Friday.Thousands of people still need help as they continue living either in hotels or in damaged homes, said Mayor Sylvester Turner.

4-pronged approach: JJ Watt lays out how $37M collected for hurricane victims will be spent

HOUSTON, Texas -- Houston Texans DE JJ Watt on Thursday, October 26th offered an update on his Hurricane Harvey relief effort -- spelling out how the more than $37 million raised will be spent to help victims.Watt began his video update, posted to social media, by apologizing that it's been a bit since his last update, saying "I didn't anticipate breaking my leg, so that threw a bit of a wrench into things."He broke his leg on October 8th vs.

Hurricane Harvey: President Trump hails 'tremendous success' in Texas' storm recovery

DALLAS — President Donald Trump pointed to "tremendous success" in Texas' work to recover from Hurricane Harvey on Wednesday, suggesting that the federal government might serve as a partner in addressing long-term flood mitigation plans in the state.Arriving in Dallas ahead of a fundraising stop, President Trump praised the work of Texas Gov.