McCrory held a news conference to discuss preparing for hurricanes. Saturday marks the start of the hurricane season, which continues through Nov. 30.
Federal forecasters are calling for 13 to 20 named Atlantic storms, seven to 11 that strengthen into hurricanes and three to six that become major hurricanes. A normal year has 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major storms with winds over 110 mph.
Last year, Superstorm Sandy hit the East Coast, although it wasn't a hurricane when it made landfall in New Jersey in October. Sandy caused damage in North Carolina, including closing N.C. Highway 12 along Hatteras Island. The road reopened in December.
But McCrory said the threat is not limited to the Outer Banks.
"No part of the state is immune from a hurricane's impacts," Gov. McCrory said. "Don't mistakenly believe that this is just a coastal threat. These storms have the potential to devastate all parts of our state."
He pointed out that Hurricanes Frances and Ivan brought torrential rains and caused deadly landslides in the mountains in 2004. In 2008, Tropical Storm Fay and Hurricane Hanna caused serious flooding in parts of Charlotte. And in 2011, Hurricane Irene not only caused flooding along the Inner Banks, it also caused serious damage as far inland as Johnston, Wilson and Nash counties.
"We've all seen how powerful and devastating these storms can be for our families, businesses and communities," said McCrory. "Taking time now to prepare or update your emergency plans and kits can provide peace of mind, as well as give you the tools you need to survive the storm and recover from it."
For more information on how to prepare for hurricane season, Click here to visit the ABC11.com Hurricane Center.
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