“The forecast places North Carolina in the bull’s-eye of Hurricane Florence.”

That’s how Governor Roy Cooper began his press conference Monday morning addressing the approaching Hurricane Florence. When Cooper began his address, Florence was a Category 3 storm and regarded as a major hurricane. Not long after the governor had finished, Florence was upgraded to a Category 4.

“We here in North Carolina are bracing for a hard hit,” the governor said.

Cooper said the threat from Florence would come in waves: storm surge as the hurricane approached, high winds as the storm hits the state and inland flooding that could impact North Carolina for several days.

The governor added that he had asked the president for a disaster declaration ahead of the hurricane’s arrival. Evacuations began in areas along the coast of the Tar Heel State on Monday and are expected to increase.

“The best safety plan is preparation and common sense,” Cooper said. “We still have a couple of days to get ready, so let’s use that time; we’re using it as a state, and I urge North Carolina to use that period of time to get ready.”

Cooper said that preparedness included making plans if you are forced to leave your home.

“Now is the time to review your emergency plans, not later when this storm is on our doorstep,” he said. “Figure out your evacuation route and discuss how you will contact family and friends, particularly seniors who may be in your family.”

Those preparations, the governor said, included collecting supplies in order to endure a sustained period without power.

“Food, water, flashlights, extra batteries, medications, important documents and other items that you will need, if you have to evacuate quickly,” the governor listed.

Cooper said other states are offering crisis assistance, as North Carolina does during times of need, which the governor said is helpful because the state is not able to concentrate resources in one area due to the widespread impact expected from Hurricane Florence.

“All parts of the state could be affected by the storm,” Cooper said. “So, it’s been important that we’ve been able to get help from other states, from the federal government.”

The Emergency Operations Center is now active, members of the National Guard have been activated and state officials have been in contact with the federal counterparts, including FEMA director Brock Long, who is a North Carolina native.

Cooper declared a State of Emergency last Friday, allowing farmers to work outside of normal operations to harvest crops and move livestock. The declaration also lays the groundwork for receiving federal help in the storm’s aftermath.

Officials also encouraged North Carolinians to sign up for the Ready NC mobile app to get the latest alerts sent directly to their smart phones.

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