RALEIGH
Sep 2, 2016
Governor Pat McCrory was at the Emergency Operations Center this morning to provide updates on Tropical Storm Hermine preparations. The governor urged residents and visitors to prepare for possible flooding, power outages and damage as the storm approaches North Carolina. Gusty winds and heavy rain are expected to begin this afternoon and continue through Saturday morning.
“The safety of our residents and visitors remains our top priority going into this holiday weekend,” said Governor McCrory. “We urge everyone to be prepared, especially for potentially dangerous flooding.”
Hermine is expected to bring up to 6 to 8 inches of rain to some parts of North Carolina. The storm surge is expected to be 1-2 feet. A flash flood watch or flood watch is now in effect for much of central and eastern North Carolina, and the high rainfall totals could lead to localized flooding, particularly in flood-prone and urban areas as well as along creeks and small streams.
The latest forecast calls for periods of heavy rainfall, especially starting late Friday afternoon through early Saturday. The heaviest rain is expected along and east of the US-1 Corridor.
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, which could lead to downed trees and power outages. Wind gusts of 30-40 mph are likely this afternoon, especially along the I-95 Corridor. There also could be some coastal flooding, with minor ocean overwash and erosion along the beaches. The river flood threats will continue well over the weekend as excess water collects around the state’s river basins.
Governor McCrory has issued a State of Emergency Declaration for 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. Mandatory evacuation of visitors from Ocracoke Island went into effect last night and more than 2,000 visitors have left the island already.
Public Safety Secretary Frank L. Perry said North Carolina 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 to remind everyone to not be complacent even after the storm passes because more deaths occur due to flooding than to any other severe weather hazard,” cautioned Secretary Perry. “Please remember to 'Turn around, don’t drown.'”
The N.C. Department of Transportation has made necessary storm preparations including checking all equipment and staging it as needed. Maintenance crews are monitoring the storm and are on standby to respond to debris and flooded roadways. In addition, the department’s Ferry Division has assisted with the evacuation of non-residents from Ocracoke Island in Hyde County.
For the latest information on the oncoming weather, stay tuned to local media and listen for updates from the National Weather Service. Follow on social media using #HermineNC. Information is also available at www.ReadyNC.org and on the free ReadyNC mobile app which can be downloaded for free.