ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — As Tropical Storm Debby moves along the coast, emergency officials in North Carolina are warning residents of heavy rain and wind expected in the coming days.
The mentality of these officials is simple: prepare for the worst.
“In emergency management, we always prepare for the worst, that’s public safety,” said Justin Graney with North Carolina Emergency Management. “We look at the worst-case scenario and we want to be prepared for that because that’s the best way to protect lives and property.”
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper had a similar sentiment Wednesday. He said, “While we hope for the best, we are prepared for the worst.”
The southern part of the state is expected to be hit the hardest by Debby, with up to 25 inches of rainfall projected in some areas. Graney said regardless of your location, be prepared.
He explained, “We want everyone to know that impacts can occur outside of that track area, outside of that cone of uncertainty. Everyone in the state of North Carolina should be prepared for impacts.”
North Carolina is under a state of emergency and President Joe Biden authorized a federal disaster declaration Wednesday. With that, more than 350 National Guard members are at the ready, as well as swift water rescue teams and other response groups.
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Brian Parnell with Pasquotank-Camden Emergency Management explained, “The state of emergency that the governor put into place allows for various agencies to reposition some personnel across the state to help jurisdictions be prepared.”
He added that these situations are a collaboration between federal agencies and local teams, saying, “If we have an emergency event and we have to activate the emergency operations center, we have our partners from the sheriff’s office, we have those partners, our 911 [and] emergency medical services.”
Emergency officials remind people not to drive through flooded roads or around barricades, with Gov. Cooper saying, “Now is not the time to see if your car floats because it doesn’t. It’s not safe to walk or drive through floodwaters.”
For more information on rainfall or flooding in North Carolina, visit the state's Flood Inundation Mapping & Alert Network (FIMAN) website. If you find yourself in an emergency situation, call 911.