RALEIGH– Gov. Mike Easley wants the State Emergency Response Team to activate Tuesday at 7:00 a.m.

The announcement Monday is in advance of Tropical Storm Hanna. If the storm continues on the current forecast track and reforms into a hurricane, the state will receive heavy rainfall which could cause flooding and is of special concern in the areas that were just flooded by the remnants of Fay, his office said in an e-mail.

“Basically, we all have 36 to 48 hours to get prepared for this storm, and then there could be another one right behind it,” said Easley.   

Specially trained storm teams are on alert, including 25 Swift Water Rescue Teams, 11 Urban Search and Rescue Teams, 36 Wilderness Search and Rescue Teams, 34 State Medical Assistance Teams, seven Public Health Regional Surveillance Teams, and seven Regional Response Teams for hazardous materials.  

Officials say the state emergency warehouse has food on hand to feed 50,000 people for a day-and-a-half and water for 50,000 people for one day.  North Carolina also has pre-arranged contracts in place for additional resources including food, water, ice, generators and other emergency needs.