By WECT Staff | July 31, 2020 at 1:36 PM EDT – Updated July 31 at 4:33 PM
RALEIGH, N.C. (WECT) – Gov. Roy Cooper has declared a statewide State of Emergency as North Carolina prepares for Hurricane Isaias.
“The state Emergency Operations Center – already activated for COVID-19 – has been activated as well for Hurricane Isaias, and state and local response teams are at the ready. And today, I have declared a state of emergency to help our state prepare,” Cooper said during a news conference Friday. “With the right protection and sheltering, we can keep people safe from the storm while at the same time trying to avoid making the pandemic worse. A hurricane during a pandemic is double trouble. But the state has been carefully preparing for this scenario.”
Cooper also asked those who have to evacuate to consider alternate options instead of shelters.
“We are urging anyone who has to evacuate to try and stay with family and friends, or even at a hotel if you can afford it, as the first two options,” Cooper said. “The state will coordinate shelters for those who need to evacuate and who can’t find other arrangements. The reason we are asking people to make shelters their last resort is because of social distancing and precautions that go along with a shelter in a pandemic.
“Because of our ongoing battle with COVID-19, people needing a shelter will be screened for symptoms and given personal protective equipment like masks at the shelter. If someone has symptoms, the state has different sheltering options available where it’s easier to isolate.”
LIVE: Gov. Cooper to give update on state’s preparations for Hurricane Isaias at 4 p.m.
Posted by WECT News on Friday, July 31, 2020
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