CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- As hundreds of thousands evacuate the Coastal Carolinas, many people are heading straight for the Queen City as a place to take refuge during the storm.
Tuesday marked the first day of mandatory evacuations for many cities along the coast in North and South Carolina.
The Breton family from Hampstead, N.C. outside Topsail Beach said it took them much longer than expected to get to their hotel in Concord.
"It took us a little over five hours to get here this time,” said Glenn Breton. ”It was a very long day."
The family made hotel reservations earlier this week, anticipating Florence’s arrival in the Carolinas.
Breton said the family took an inventory of material items in their home for insurance purposes before they left, and then brought the necessities with them.
"Packed up our cats and what we cared about and put it in our vehicles.” Breton said.
According to hotels.com as of Tuesday night, many hotels across the Charlotte region are still showing availability for the days leading up to Florence’s arrival in the Carolinas.
For those wanting to camp out, Charlotte Motor Speedway announced Tuesday it is opening its Rock City Campground for evacuees heading west or inland from Hurricane Florence.
The accommodations will be available as long as possible prior to potential landfall.
The Price family from West Virginia is one of many families taking refuge at the campground after their beach vacation on North Myrtle Beach was cut short by the hurricane.
"Well Charlotte's not bad, or Concord's not bad, so, you know, I guess if we can't spend the week at the beach, it'll be okay to stay here,” said Christy Price.
