Governor Pat McCrory was at the Emergency Operations Center today for a briefing with Public Safety Secretary Frank Perry and state Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry to discuss storm preparations and any equipment or staffing support needs for counties as Hurricane Hermine approaches North Carolina. The governor is urging North Carolina residents and visitors to be prepared for heavy rains, possible flooding and gusty winds due to the storm set to pass through parts of the state Friday night and early Saturday.
“We are working together across multiple agencies throughout North Carolina to make sure we are over prepared and underwhelmed for this storm because we want people to safely enjoy their Labor Day vacation in North Carolina," said Governor McCrory. “Safety always remains our top priority.”
The latest forecast calls for heavy rainfall across central and eastern North Carolina with potential for flash flooding and gusty winds, as well as isolated tornadoes. During the next three days, the Sandhills, Triangle and Rocky Mount areas could see 1-3 inches of rain, while the I-95 corridor may get 4 to 6 inches and coastal plain counties could see 4 to 8 inches of precipitation. The greatest impacts are expected to be felt in the eastern part of the state where there may be flooding in low-lying areas and gusty winds could lead to downed trees and power outages.
There also could be some coastal flooding, with minor ocean overwash and erosion along the beaches.
Governor McCrory has issued a State of Emergency Declaration for the 33 eastern counties to facilitate the movement of any resources that may be needed to respond to and recover from the storm. He also issued an executive order that waives certain truck restrictions on weight and hours of service in order to facilitate quicker storm response.
Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry briefs Governor McCrory
Public Safety Secretary Frank L. Perry said National Guard soldiers, Highway Patrol troopers and Department of Transportation crews have been mobilized across the state and are ready to respond where needed.
“We want everyone to be extremely careful on the road and remember to ‘Turn around, don’t drown,” cautioned Secretary Perry. “Please continue to monitor your local weather station.”
The forecast indicates that the storm will likely arrive in North Carolina Friday with rainfall and wind increasing in intensity through the day into Saturday.
For the latest information on the oncoming weather, stay tuned to local media and listen for updates from the National Weather Service. Citizens are also encouraged to follow on social media using #HermineNC. Information is also available at www.ReadyNC.org and at the ReadyNC mobile app which can be downloaded for free.
To view Executive Order 97, click here.
To view Executive Order 98, click here.
###