North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper just issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in preparation for Hurricane Irma. The order urges North Carolinians to prepare for a possible direct hurricane strike on the state.
The executive order directs all North Carolina agencies to coordinate resources to prepare for the inbound hurricane.
“You can never be too prepared for an emergency,” Governor Cooper said. “We know from Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Harvey that storm tracks can shift quickly and that’s why North Carolina isn’t waiting to get ready. These tropical systems can pack a powerful punch and those who are prepared ahead of time will fare better.”
.@NC_Governor Cooper: declaring state of emergency for entire state effective 8 am tomorrow #irmanc #ncwx
— NC Emergency Managem (@NCEmergency) September 6, 2017
Here is the Governor’s briefing about the State of Emergency;
The National Hurricane Center is now anticipating Hurricane Irma to strike the Carolinas on the afternoon of September 11th;
If you live anywhere near the North Carolina coast, you should immediately start reviewing your safety plans, become familiar with local evacuation routes, and continue to follow Irma’s path on NHC.NOAA.Gov.
You should also make sure your hurricane supply kit is stocked and ready to use in case you lose power or get stuck in flash flooding.
Duke Energy recommends the following items (available via 2-day shipping on Amazon.com if your local store has already been cleaned out);
- Cash (ATMs may not work)
- Car charger for cell phones and other devices
- Clean drinking water (recommended 1 gallon per person per day, minimum three days)
- Flashlights
- Batteries: Extra batteries for all of your devices
- Weather radio/clock
- Non-perishable food
- First aid kit
Do you have each of these items in your emergency kit? https://t.co/HKuYoaV91Z pic.twitter.com/YeapfWh0jS
— Duke Energy (@DukeEnergy) April 5, 2017
Other items to consider would be candles, matches, blankets, extra clothes, and self-defense weapons (for protection against possible vandalism/looting).
UPDATE 9/7/2017 7:00am:
The forecast for Hurricane Irma continues to show a strong possibility of the storm avoiding landfall with Florida and continuing up the coast toward the Carolinas in full force:
Please help spread the word!