The rain has already begun in Chapel Hill – and while we’re not expecting a major hit from Hurricane Matthew in our area, local and state officials are still urging you to be prepared in case of emergency.

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory has declared a state of emergency for all 100 counties in the state as officials prepare for the storm. Earlier this week, forecasters said there was a good chance the hurricane would hit North Carolina directly, but more recent projections have it moving off into the Atlantic instead. That’s good news for North Carolina, but officials say the storm could still pack a significant punch – and with hurricanes, there’s always a chance the track could change again.

In Orange County, forecasters expect 1 to 3 inches of rain to fall between now and Saturday, with occasional wind gusts up to 40 miles an hour. (East of Route 1, the forecast calls for 3-6 inches of rain, with the Outer Banks taking an even bigger hit.) Emergency officials say that creates a risk of flooding, especially since the ground is already saturated from previous rain – and there’s also a risk of downed branches, downed trees, and power outages from downed power lines.

For more info on emergency preparedness in Orange County – and what you need to know about Hurricane Matthew locally – visit ReadyOrange.org.

Orange County emergency management coordinator Kirby Saunders says the rule is always “Get A Kit, Make A Plan, Be Informed.” You should have an emergency kit on hand, just in case, with 72 hours’ worth of emergency supplies (including food, water, needed medication, pet food, a charged cell phone, a flashlight, a radio, and enough batteries to keep them running). Saunders says emergency crews are at the ready for Hurricane Matthew: we don’t expect significant emergencies in Orange County, but officials are ready to help out either here or elsewhere, wherever needed.

Kirby Saunders spoke Thursday with WCHL’s Aaron Keck.

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