RALEIGH, N.C. — Gov. Roy Cooper urged North Carolinians to be safe during heavy rainfall as Hurricane Ian bears down on the state.
"Our message today is simple. Be smart and be safe. We’ve faced storms like this before and we know what to do," Governor Cooper said. "Especially this weekend, I appreciate the efforts of emergency management officials, our national guard, state highway patrol and other first responders to keep people safe."
The hurricane came ashore in Georgetown, SC at 2:05 p.m. Friday - about 45 minutes south of Myrtle Beach.
North Carolina is expected to get anywhere from 2-6 inches of rainfall across the state. It could lead to flash flooding in some areas. A flash flood watch is in effect for nearly all of the state.
The State Emergency Response Team activated Thursday as Cooper declared a state of emergency. The declaration will make it easier for North Carolina to get federal aid and resources.
Here are a few numbers to show you how North Carolina is prepared for Hurricane Ian:
- More than 10,000 utility workers in the Carolinas are poised to respond to power outages when it’s safe to do so.
- More than 2,200 NCDOT officials prepared equipment and are on standby waiting to respond around-the-clock later today and into this weekend.
- Crews fueled up and prepared more than 221 motor graders, 376 backhoes and loaders, 1,440 chainsaws and 1,368 trucks to cut and shove downed trees and debris from roads.