Hanna looms; Ike likely to follow

Weather forecasters expect Tropical Storm Hanna to make landfall in North Carolina on Saturday morning, possibly as a minimal hurricane, causing minor structural damage and coastal flooding.

Still, with Hurricane Ike coming up behind Hanna, Gov. Mike Easley declared a state of emergency today, a move that gives him the power to seek federal assistance cleaning up storm debris.

"Everybody in North Carolina, pay attention the next couple of weeks," Easley said. "We're in storm season."

Hanna is expected to race out of the state by Saturday afternoon. Its heaviest rains and winds are forecast to remain east of Interstate 95 on Friday night and Saturday, with possible isolated tornadoes along and east of the path.

Areas along the track could see 4 to 5 inches of rain, said Jeff Orrock, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Raleigh. The Triangle area forecast calls for 2 to 3 inches of rainfall on Friday and Saturday, with wind gusts up to 39 mph.

The National Hurricane Center shows the storm coming ashore, possibly as a weak Category 1 hurricane, Saturday morning between Wilmington and Jacksonville, then cutting quickly through coastal counties and northeastern North Carolina on its march northward.

A hurricane watch remains in effect for parts of the North Carolina coast line even though Hanna is forecast to remain a tropical storm.

The hurricane watch was in effect Thursday evening from Edisto Beach, S.C., to Currituck Beach Light. In addition, a tropical storm warning was issued from the Savannah River northward to the North Carolina/Virginia border, including the Pamlico and Albemarle sounds.

The warning means tropical storm conditions are expected within within the next 24 hours.

At 5 p.m., the center of Hanna was located about 625 miles south-southeast of Wilmington and was moving northwest at about 14 mph Thursday evening. Maximum sustained winds were near 65 mph with higher gusts. The minimum wind for a Category 1 hurricane is 74 mph.

Hurricane Ike, a much more powerful storm is following Hanna's path, and could strike North Carolina next week as it recovers from Hanna. Ike is expected to be a Category 3 storm as it approaches the U.S. coast. At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Ike's winds had declined from 145 mph to 135 mph, still making it a Category 4 storm.

In advance of Hanna, the National Weather Service has issued a hurricane watch for North Carolina's coast south of Ocracoke and is warning people of rough surf and a threat of rip currents ahead of the storm. Emergency officials have not decided whether to issue evacuation orders.

Coastal areas could experience wind gusts of 70 to 75 mph. A storm surge could reach 4 feet, with the biggest impact in the areas of New Bern, Swan Quarter, Belhaven, Ocracoke and Hatteras, Orrock said.

"This isn't going to be like Fran or Floyd or anything like that, but people should be prepared in the East," Orrock said.

On Wednesday, Easley reminded North Carolinians that many spots in the state are still recovering from Tropical Storm Fay, and heavy rains could cause flooding. He said the storm's heaviest winds will hit hours before the eye passes over.

Easley also has activated the state's Emergency Response Team and has 144 state troopers and 270 National Guardsmen ready to be deployed.

Progress Energy said it would move some employees and contract crews to coastal areas Friday, so they will be in place to respond to possible power outages.

The company said it would maintain line and tree crews in all areas where the storm could create outages, including the Triangle, Sandhills and South Carolina. Once those areas are clear, teams will be sent to Eastern North Carolina to support restoration there as needed, Progress officials said.

The National Weather Service said people should make sure that loose items are secure, so they won't become hazards in high winds. The Weather Service also encouraged people to have hurricane kits ready in case the storm cuts utility services and blocks roads.

A list of items to place in a hurricane kit appears at right and also can be found at hurricane kit.