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As tropical storm Florence continues to head to the east coast, the governor of North Carolina has announced the state of emergency. The storm, which is expected to regain hurricane strength, promises heavy rains, dangerous surf conditions and tear currents.
Governor Roy Cooper declared the state of emergency Friday night, calling on locals, especially farmers, to prepare for the storm.
"While it's still too early to know the way of the storm, we know we have to be ready," Governor Cooper said in a press release. "During the harvest, time is running out. The action of today can avoid the losses due to Florence. "
Cooper has signed a transportation exemption that would allow farmers to harvest and transport their crops faster.
"The decree will help to bring together and move crops in and across the state more easily and quickly in response to problems that may be caused by Tropical Storm Florence in North Carolina and along the East Coast" says the governor's statement.
Cooper said emergency managers were working with local and federal officials to prepare for Florence's "possible impacts."
"We are entering the peak of the hurricane season and we know the unpredictability and power of these storms," Cooper said.
Similarly, the South Carolina Emergency Management Division advised residents to begin developing contingency plans.
"The risk of other direct impacts associated with Florence along the US East Coast next week has increased, but there is still a great deal of uncertainty in the Florence model's forecasts beyond the day (five). which makes the scale and timing of these impacts too early, "wrote Hurricane expert Robbie Berg in a forecast opinion.
The National Hurricane Center said the maximum winds sustained by Florence on Friday night were about 65 miles to the hour. The storm was centered about 905 miles east-southeast of Bermuda and was moving westward at 8 miles to the hour.
Florence is weakened, but forecasters have anticipated that favorable weather conditions would allow them to regain strength as a major hurricane before reaching the east coast.
In addition, two low-pressure systems off the coast of Africa, behind Florence, were likely to turn into tropical storms, forecasters said.
"As we are near the peak of the hurricane season, it's a good time for anyone living in a hurricane-prone area to make sure their hurricane plan is in place," he said. said David Zelinsky, hurricane specialist.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
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