Press Releases

Anticipating historic major damage across North Carolina from Hurricane Florence, Governor Roy Cooper today requested a presidential disaster declaration to expedite the process of receiving federal aid for cleanup and recovery. Read the request HERE.

Governor Roy Cooper today continued to urge North Carolinians to seek safety as conditions deteriorate due to high winds, heavy rainfall and storm surge from Hurricane Florence.

Governor Roy Cooper today continued to urge North Carolinians to seek safety as conditions deteriorate due to high winds, heavy rainfall and storm surge from Hurricane Florence.

With this morning’s forecast showing Hurricane Florence only hours away and powerful winds set to reach North Carolina beaches and sounds tomorrow morning, Governor Roy Cooper urged residents to complete preparations and obey local authorities regarding evacuations.

Read Executive Order Here

As Hurricane Florence approaches North Carolina, shelters statewide are opening to take in people displaced by evacuations. Prisons and jails in vulnerable areas are evacuating, and long-term care facilities have been urged to work with local emergency management officials to ensure resident and patient safety. The state has announced closures of state parks, museums and other attractions. Governor Cooper has also authorized providing more North Carolina National Guard soldiers for Hurricane Florence response.

Governor Roy Cooper today asked for a federal disaster declaration on behalf of North Carolina to ensure the state can get federal aid as soon as possible.

With Hurricane Florence now a category 4 hurricane, Governor Roy Cooper this evening urged North Carolina residents, businesses and visitors not to delay preparations and to follow evacuation orders. The storm is expected to make landfall near Wilmington on Thursday with impacts starting Wednesday.

With the latest forecast showing Florence likely to grow in strength and threaten the East Coast, Governor Roy Cooper today urged all North Carolina residents, businesses and visitors to prepare for the storm. The latest forecast from National Hurricane Center shows Florence becoming a major hurricane by early in the week and tracking toward the southeastern United States by later in the week.

While the track of Tropical Storm Florence remains uncertain, state and local emergency management officials are already taking steps to prepare for potential impacts to North Carolina. Governor Roy Cooper today encouraged North Carolinians to use the weekend to update their own emergency plans and supplies.