Lexington County residents brace for the worst of Hurricane Florence.
Even if it hits North rather than South Carolina, Lexington County will feel heavy winds and rain.
Florence’s winds hit 130 mph as a Category 4 storm.
Its winds were expected to top 150 mph if it accelerates to Category 5.
Hurricane and storm surge watches were as far south as Edisto Beach to the North Carolina-Virginia border – meaning all of North Carolina’s coast.
The governors of both Carolinas ordered evacuation of the coast and closed eastbound interstate traffic.
I-26 was closed eastbound from Charleston to I-77 in Lexington County.
SC Adjutant General Robert Livingston advised caution as “it takes 36 to 48 hours to evacuate the coast, but a storm can change direction in 3 to 4 hours.” 
The storm is expected to slow as it moves onto land but could dump as much as 30 inches of rain.
Fortunately, ABC forecaster John Farley said, the ground in this area is not as saturated as it was in 2015, lowering flooding chances. 
SC Gov. Henry McMaster ordered Lexington County schools closed to give relief workers time to prepare to receive evacuees.
He said, “This hurricane is big and strong, and it’s bigger than Hurricane Hugo.
“This is the most ferocious one since then but all the predictions are, when it gets to the coast it’ll be moving slow, so it’ll be dumping rain on us and North Carolina for a long time.” 
Forecasters predict rain of up to 10 inches through early next week.
Many here remember the effect of 2015’s Hurricane Joaquin whose rain flooded homes and businesses, collapsed dams and closed busy US 1 in Lexington.
Forecasters expect winds will be stiffer than Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and rain heavier than Hurricane Matthew in 2016. 
Matthew sent low country residents to shelter in Lexington County schools.
Hugo hit Charleston Sept. 22, 1989, with winds of 135 to 140 mph, did $7 billion in damage and was responsible for 49 deaths,
In the 2015 flooding here, Hurricane Joaquin dumped 2 feet of rain. In one 24 hour period, more than 16 inches fell, causing more than $2 billion in damage and 9 deaths.