Gov. Perdue Declares State of Emergency Friday

Raleigh, N.C. — Gov. Bev Perdue on Friday declared a state of emergency for 40 eastern North Carolina counties in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy’s presence off the coast.

The state of emergency takes effect Saturday for Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Hoke, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, New Hanover, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Pitt, Robeson, Sampson, Tyrrell, Washington, Wayne and Wilson counties.

“This is a large storm with a lot of energy, and its effects are likely to be felt along our coast and throughout eastern counties,” Perdue said in a statement. “People should not be fooled by the Category 1 status. Folks need to take this storm seriously and be ready.”

The emergency declaration authorizes additional state government resources to assist county and municipal governments in responding to the storm. The governor also activated the State Emergency Operations Center, beginning Saturday morning, to prepare for and respond to the storm.

Sandy is a Category 1 storm, with sustained winds of 75 mph. As of 5 p.m., it was moving north at 7 mph, about 600 miles south of Raleigh.

The Red Cross also was mobilizing volunteers and emergency supplies at offices across the eastern part of the state to assist with any recovery efforts.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation stationed equipment along N.C. Highway 12 on Hatteras Island, which often is inundated when storms pass offshore, and the agency has moved its larger ferries closer to Hatteras in case emergency evacuations are needed this weekend.