North Carolina declares state of emergency as Hurricane Idalia makes landfall

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency due to expected hazards from Hurricane Idalia.

The National Weather Service in Raleigh expects that the worst of Idalia’s effects will be on North Carolina’s southeast coast, east of I-95, where the greatest chance of tropical storm force winds and 4 to 10 inches of rain can be expected.

The emergency declaration made by Gov. Roy Cooper Aug. 28 allows the government to activate their emergency response plans to prepare first responders, agricultural industry and general public for impacts from Hurricane Idalia after it makes landfall in Florida. The declaration will also protect consumers from price gouging. 

“We are continuing to monitor Idalia’s course and its potential impacts on our state and it’s critical to make sure we are fully prepared,” Cooper said in a press release. “It is important for North Carolinians to gather emergency kits and prepare for the storm before it’s too late.” 

Hurricane Idalia made landfall along Florida’s Big Bend region along the Gulf Coast on the morning of Aug. 30. 

Hurricane Franklin out in the Atlantic Ocean is also expected to create dangerous rip currents on the coast. 

The National Hurricane Center projects that the panhandle of Florida could receive 10 to 15 feet of storm surge along with destructive winds.

After making landfall in Florida, Idalia will slightly diminish over the Florida peninsula on Wednesday. The storm is projected to weaken to a Tropical Storm and hug the southeast coast of Georgia and the Carolinas on Thursday. 

Idalia is forecasted to bring 1 to 3 feet of storm surge along the North Carolina coast between the South Carolina border and Surf City, North Carolina.

NWS Raleigh has issued flood watches in both Orange and Chatham counties, which border Alamance county, for Aug. 30. According to NOAA, central North Carolina can expect 1 to 2 inches of rain from Idalia.

Tropical storm warnings have been issued along the southeast coast of North Carolina. Tropical storm watches are in effect for the rest of the North Carolina coast. Idalia is forecasted to cause heavy rain, occasional gusty winds and isolated flash flooding in North Carolina beginning the afternoon of Aug. 30 and lasting throughout the day Aug. 31, according to North Carolina Emergency Management.