Hurricane Florence

Hurricane Florence, the second hurricane of the Atlantic system this season, will reach Bermuda sometime Monday, September 11. Experts say it is too early to say whether it will hit Bermuda directly or head farther out into the ocean, but the effects have already begun to hit Bermuda and the surrounding area. Winds have reached nearly 80 mph and the storm is quickly becoming a Category 2 hurricane. All but the most thrill-seeking residents and tourists have been evacuated over the past few days, as scientists predict up to 5 or 6 foot tidal swells and an increase in the violence of the surf and rip currents along the entire eastern seaboard. While Bermuda's infrastructure is built to withstand hurricane conditions (with newly built houses required to withstand sustained winds of 110 mph and many power and phone lines underground), what will the effects be on the other parts of the eastern seaboard? Will east-coast tourism and manufacturing suffer from a large loss in revenue as a result of Florence?