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"What I witnessed firsthand in Beaufort, Chowan and Perquimans counties is a stark reminder of how damaging tornadoes can be," said Governor McCrory. "My heart goes out to the hundreds of people dealing with property damage, injuries, and even the loss of life. In times like these, we must stick together and help each other out, and we will do all that we can to help communities hit by these storms."
The governor also urged all North Carolinians to be prepared for the severe weather that caused deadly tornadoes in the Midwest, as it heads toward North Carolina.
Meteorologists are predicting the system has the potential to spark more tornadoes. The storms are expected to move into western North Carolina late Monday and affect North Carolina statewide through Wednesday.
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In the west, heavy rains could cause flash flooding and possibly mudslides. Central North Carolina may experience multiple strong storms Tuesday and Wednesday. The east remains at risk for storms and residents with damages from the previous storms should exercise extreme caution if severe weather is in the area.
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"We have all seen how quickly storms can strike and it is extremely important for everyone to stay tuned to local weather reports to get the most up to date information," said Secretary Frank L. Perry, Department of Public Safety. "Our goal is to stress the importance of being prepared."
