Forecasters believe Hurricane Joaquin will not directly hit the United States

Even so, the EIA reports that heavy rain, strong winds and possible flooding could threaten electric infrastructure throughout the mid-Atlantic states. The US Hurricane Center upgraded Joaquin to a Category 4 at 2 p.m. on Thursday, calling the storm “extremely risky”.

The National Weather Service in Greenville said that “bursts of heavy rain are likely” in the Carolinas and parts of northern Georgia that could cause rivers and streams in the region to flood significantly.

Police say they responded to 74 crashes and 52 disabled vehicles by midday Friday. Click for the ABC11 Hurricane TrackerAt 11 a.m. Friday, the center of Hurricane Joaquin was moving toward the north at 3 miles per hour.

Dishneau reported from Chincoteague, Virginia; Borenstein from Washington. The approach of Hurricane Joaquin (wah-KEEN’) could intensify the damage. Palafox said she had discussed the weather forecast with Arteaga earlier this week, but she hadn’t seemed concerned about the expected heavy rains.

In North Carolina, Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency Thursday and said emergency management officials are preparing for expected floods by readying supplies and going over readiness checklists. Bullard also said water rescue crews are on standby. There’s an increasing threat for landslides and debris flows across the mountains and foothills for the state.

Significant storm surge possible up the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac, with tidal flooding in Annapolis, Old Town and Georgetown. Millions along the east coast breathed a little easier Friday after forecasters said Hurricane Joaquin would probably veer out to sea instead of joining up with a drenching rainstorm that is bringing severe flooding to parts of the Atlantic Seaboard.

A flash flood warning was in effect in parts of South Carolina, where authorities shut down the Charleston peninsula to motorists.

Christie says he will consider evacuations if necessary, but that it’s too early to know if that will be needed.

Sailors at the world’s largest naval base are filling thousands of sandbags to protect the base’s buildings from flooding.

Steve Stougard of Norfolk, Virginia, called Joaquin’s course “an answered prayer”.

The flooding was mostly localized.

In an email, she wrote, “There have been a few downed trees where I live, and the rain’s definitely hampered things”. But on Friday, U.S. National Hurricane Center director Rick Knabb said Joaquin was no longer expected to make a direct hit.

Doug Bryson with Spartanburg County Emergency Management told news outlets that one man was rescued Thursday morning after his vehicle was swept off the road where a culvert had washed out.

There was no immediate word on his condition.

Gordon says the passenger in one of the vehicles died, and the driver was taken to the hospital. The victim’s name hasn’t been released. A road that runs behind the shop was closed. “A lot of places are going to have 5, 6, 7 inches of rain, particularly the whole state of South Carolina”.

Breezy with showers on Sunday; becoming partly sunny by Monday.

In one area, water swirled like a toilet down a storm drain.

“This is not just any rain”, Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina said.

Live 5 News Meteorologist Bill Walsh says the rainfall potential for Saturday is between 8 to 12 inches.

Governors up and down the coast warned residents to prepare.

The Coast Guard has advised beachgoers to exercise caution while at beaches off the coasts of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina due to the increased possibility of rip currents caused by Hurricane Joaquin.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was among the officials urging residents to take precautions, saying: “Our state has seen the damage that extreme weather can cause time and time again”.