>> WELL GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE WANT TO SHARE THE LATEST UPDATES ON TROPICAL STORM DEBBY AS THE STORM BEGINS TO IMPACT NORTH CAROLINA.

IN OUR STATE WE'RE ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH RAIN AND FLOODING THAT COMES FROM SLOW MOVING STORMS.

SO PREPARATION NOW MEANS SAVING LIVES LATER.

WE EXPECT THIS STORM TO CONTINUE ITS SLOW GRADUAL APPROACH BRINGING MULTIPLE DAYS OF HEAVY RAINFALL AND THE POTENTIAL FOR WIDESPREAD AND EVEN SEVERE FLASH FLOODING.

IN RESPONSE.

I'VE ACTIVATED MORE THAN 350 SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA NATIONAL GUARD.

AND DEPLOYED SWIFT WATER RESCUE TEAMS TO BE ON THE READY.

LAST NIGHT WE RECEIVED A FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARATION FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN THAT WILL HELP DIRECT FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO NORTH CAROLINA.

A SLOW-MOVING TROPICAL STORM CAN SOMETIMES BE EVEN MORE DEADLY THAN A QUICK MOVING HURRICANE.

THAT MEANS EVEN WITHOUT THE CONSTANT HIGH WINDS.

WE MUST BE ON HIGH ALERT.

THIS STORM COULD BRING DANGEROUS CONDITIONS TO MUCH OF OUR STATE.

AND A NUMBER OF AREAS ARE FORECASTERS PREDICT TORNADOES HEAVY RAINS.

FLASH FLOODS.

AND POSSIBLE STORM SURGE THAT CAN QUICKLY INUNDATE LOW-LYING AREAS.

THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN FATALITIES REPORTED ACROSS FLORIDA, GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA.

WHERE RESPONSE EFFORTS ARE ONGOING.

AND OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH OUR SOUTHERN NEIGHBORS.

TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS AND WATCHES HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR MUCH OF EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

AND SOME VOLUNTARY EVACUATIONS ARE UNDERWAY.

HOWEVER ALL NORTH CAROLINIANS ACROSS OUR STATE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR A DELUGE.

MORE RAIN THAN MOST OF US SEE IN A MONTH OR EVEN SEVERAL MONTHS.

THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF OUR STATE COULD SEE AS MUCH AS 15 INCHES.

AND THE CENTRAL PARTS COULD SEE UP TO 10 INCHES IN SOME AREAS.

THE RAIN COMBINED WITH ALREADY SATURATED SOIL AND WINDS CAN LEAD TO DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES.

MAKE SURE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE READY WITH SUPPLIES IN CASE YOU LOSE POWER.

OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAM HERE AND THOSE IN COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE ARE DEPLOYING RESOURCES STRATEGICALLY.

ON MONDAY.

I DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY TO HELP MOVE SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT AND CROPS BEFORE THE STORM ARRIVES.

I'VE TALKED WITH FEMA ADMINISTRATOR DEANNE CRISWELL AND THEIR TEAM IS WITH US HERE AT THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER.

NORTH CAROLINIANS SHOULD TAKE THIS STORM SERIOUSLY AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE READY ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIVE IN LOW-LYING AREAS AND THAT MEANS TAKING CARE OF YOUR PETS TOO.

BE SURE TO SECURE YOUR HOME AND BELONGINGS AND HAVE A WAY TO STAY INFORMED.

AND REMEMBER.

NEVER DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED ROADS OR AROUND BARRICADES.

IT ONLY TAKES 6 INCHES OF FAST-MOVING FLOOD WATER TO KNOCK OVER AN ADULT AND JUST 12 INCHES TO CARRY AWAY MOST CARS.

NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO SEE IF YOUR CAR FLOATS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE OR WALK THROUGH FLOOD WATERS.

OUR DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS WILL TELL YOU THAT WE'VE LOST TOO MANY LIVES AFTER THE STORMS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE TRYING TO DRIVE THROUGH OR WALK THROUGH WATER.

WE EXPECT THE IMPACTS TO CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL DAYS.

SO PLEASE LISTEN TO LOCAL OFFICIALS AND FOLLOW EVACUATION ORDERS IF THEY ARE ISSUED.

IF YOU'RE TOLD TO EVACUATE GET OUT OF THE DANGER ZONE.

MAKE A PLAN NOW TO STAY WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY OR EVEN AT A SHELTER.

THEY WILL BE OPENING AND YOU CAN VISIT YOUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT WEBSITE OR CALL 2, 1, 1, FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON SHELTERING OPTIONS.

AS ALWAYS I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR OUR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AROUND OUR STATE WHO ARE ALWAYS READY TO HELP.

AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT WHILE WE HOPE FOR THE BEST.

WE ARE PREPARED FOR THE WORST.

TODAY I'M JOINED HERE BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR WILL RE ARE TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY JOEY HOPKINS.

THE ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE NORTH CAROLINA NATIONAL GUARD MAJOR GENERAL TODD HUNT.

OUR COMMANDER OF THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE HIGHWAY PATROL COLONEL FREDDY JOHNSON.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR PLANNING KATIE WEBSTER AND FEMA FEDERAL COORDINATING OFFICER ROD MCALLISTER.

OUR AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS AT EARLY WILLIAMS AND NICOLE FOX.

AND BEHIND THE SCENES OUR SPANISH LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS OR JAKEEM IT EVERY YEAR AND NANCY THOUGH THE WAIVER.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL NOW ASKED DIRECTOR WRAY FOR HIS UPDATE.

GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU GOVERNOR COOPER.

>> NORTH CAROLINA IS ONCE AGAIN FACED WITH A STORM THAT WILL IMPACT COMMUNITIES WITH HEAVY RAINFALL FLOODING GUSTY WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES.

SINCE LAST FRIDAY OUR STATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM PARTNERS LOCAL STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES OUR NONPROFIT AND VOLUNTEER AGENCIES AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON THE POTENTIAL TROPICAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE IMPACTS FROM TROPICAL STORM DEBBY.

SINCE MONDAY.

THE STATE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER AND PORTIONS OF THE STATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED AT AN ENHANCED WATCH TO SUPPORT CAPABILITY NEEDS OF OUR LOCAL AND STATE PARTNERS.

TODAY WE'RE FURTHER ELEVATED OUR OPERATIONAL POSTURE BY FULLY ACTIVATING THE STATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM TO FACILITATE EFFECTIVE RESPONSE TO THE NEEDS OF OUR LOCAL JURISDICTIONS AND STATE PARTNERS ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL NORTH CAROLINIANS TO BOOT TO BE AWARE OF THE CONDITIONS TO HAVE A DEPENDABLE WAY TO RECEIVE EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS AND ALERTS AND TO HAVE A PLAN OF ACTION IF YOU CAN NO LONGER STAY IN YOUR HOME.

WITH THE FORECASTED RAINFALL AMOUNTS FOR UP TO 15 INCHES ACROSS THE EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UP TO 10 INCHES IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

WE'RE ANTICIPATING MAJOR IMPACTS FROM FLOODING ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE STATE.

RAINFALL IN THESE AMOUNTS CAN FLOOD HOMES AND BUSINESSES.

THE ROAD AND DAMAGE ROADWAYS AND MAY CREATE SITUATIONS IN WHICH LOCAL OFFICIALS MAY NEED TO ORDER EVACUATIONS TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY.

AREAS THAT NORMALLY DO NOT FLOOD MAY BE COVERED IN WATER AND I URGE YOU TO FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE OF YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES.

THE STATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM HAS ACTIVATED 17 SWIFT WATER RESCUE TEAMS TO BE STAGED ACROSS OUR CENTRAL AND EASTERN REGIONS OF OUR STATE TO ASSIST LOCAL RESPONSE NEEDS.

COMPONENTS OF NORTH CAROLINA 7 STATE URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE TASK FORCES AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, REGIONAL RESPONSE TEAMS, STAND READY TO ALSO RESPOND.

WE'RE CONTINUING TO EVALUATE THE POTENTIAL FLOODING THREAT AND IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL SEARCH AND RESCUE OR SWIFT WATER RESCUE CAPABILITY THAT COULD BE NEEDED EITHER NATIVE TO NORTH CAROLINA WE'RE THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER STATES AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE NORTH CAROLINA NATIONAL GUARD HAS DEPLOYED OVER 350 SOLDIERS WITH HIGH CLEARANCE VEHICLES AND OTHER EQUIPMENT TO SUPPORT BOTH THE MOVEMENT OF COMMODITIES AND PERSONNEL ACROSS THE STATE AND ARE PREPARED TO ASSIST THE COUNTY'S IN AREAS THAT EXPERIENCE FLOODING.

THE STATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM HAS SUPPORTED MULTIPLE COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION MISSIONS ACROSS 9 EASTERN COUNTIES, CURRENTLY WHICH INCLUDE WATER PUMPS TARTS MEALS WATER GENERATORS AND SANDBAGS.

ALONG WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE NORTH CAROLINA OFFICE OF EMS WE ARE WORKING TO STAGE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE HEALTH CARE INFRASTRUCTURE ACROSS THE STATE WHETHER THROUGH STATE MEDICAL SUPPORT SHELTERS.

MEDICAL PERSONNEL OR FOR PRE HOSPITAL EMS RESPONSE NEEDS.

AS THE GOVERNOR SAID LAST NIGHT THE WHITE HOUSE AND FEMA APPROVED A PRE LANDFALL DISASTER DECLARATION FOR NORTH CAROLINA TO EXPEDITE FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE MEASURES AND A CONTINGENT OF FEMA INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM PERSONNEL ON THE GROUND IN THE STATE TODAY.

WE THANK OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT TO THE STATE DURING BOTH OUR RESPONSE AND RECOVERY OPERATIONS FROM DEBBIE.

OUTAGE CURRENT WEATHER WHERE EVACUATION ROUTE INFORMATION.

PLEASE VISIT READY NC .GOV.

ADDITIONALLY RESIDENTS CAN ACCESS THE STATE'S NEARLY 600 FLOOD GAUGES THROUGH THE NORTH CAROLINA A FLOOD INUNDATION MAPPING AND ALERT NETWORK BY GOING TO FIND AN DOT NC .GOV.

FINALLY PLEASE CALL 911 ONLY FOR EMERGENCIES.

WE WISH TO KEEP EMERGENCY LINES OPEN FOR THOSE WITH LIFE-THREATENING SITUATIONS.

AS WE BEGIN TO SEE IMPACTS HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA PLEASE REMAIN ALERT.

INFORMED AND CHECK ON THOSE IN YOUR COMMUNITY WHO MAY NEED ASSISTANCE.

TOGETHER TAKING CARE OF OUR FAMILIES OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE'RE STRONGER DURING A DISASTER.

>> THANK YOU I'D LIKE TO ANYBODY MEDIA HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION TO APPROACH THE MICROPHONES ON EACH SIDE WE ALSO HAVE SOME MEDIA I THINK ONLINE BUT WILL HAVE QUESTIONS FROM PEOPLE IN THE ROOM FIRST IN ANY OF US ARE AVAILABLE TO.

ANSWER QUESTIONS THOUGH WAR.

>> IT'S LAURA LESLIE WITH WRAL HOW MANY OF THE SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS.

THE WATER RESCUE TEAMS ARE ON STANDBY AND WHERE THOSE TEAMS LOCATED.

>> PETER 17 OF BUT I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE POINT MOSTLY IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA OUTLET, DIRECT DIRECT.

THANKS ARE.

YES, YES, SIR THEY ARE THE LARGE MAJORITY OF OUR TEAMS ARE LOCATED EITHER FORWARD DEPLOYED IN 2 COUNTIES THAT THAT.

>> MAYBE PLANNING FOR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING OR STAGE TO A REGIONAL LOCATION, SAME WITH THE TEAMS THAT ARE CENTRAL BRANCH RIGHT NOW WITH THE RAINFALL THAT WE'RE SEEING AGAIN I WOULD ALSO REMIND FOLKS THAT WE ARE SEEING THIS IS GOING TO BE A STATEWIDE IMPACT.

I'M SO VERY MUCH THERE ARE WESTERN PARTS OF THE STATE THAT THAT ARE ALSO I'M LOOKING AT AND EVALUATING SOME OF THESE FLOODING THREATS.

RIGHT NOW THE BULK OF THE 17 TEAMS ARE EITHER FORWARD IN COUNTIES OR AT STAGING LOCATIONS IN THE EAST SAME FOR CENTRAL BRANCH.

>> THE QUESTION YOU ALSO MENTIONED COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION.

YOU MENTIONED 9 COUNTIES WHICH COUNTIES ARE THOSE.

>> I WILL I WILL GET THOSE TO AGAIN PREDOMINANTLY IN THE TOWARDS THAT SOUTHEASTERN CORNER, I'M ALSO KIND OF I THINK DOWN OVER TOWARDS INTO THE SAND HILLS AS WELL BUT REALLY THOSE THOSE COUNTIES I THINK LOOKING AT POTENTIAL RAINFALL AND FLOOD LEVELS WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PREPARED AS WELL.

>> ONCE THE STORM HAS PASSED TALK ABOUT YOU KNOW IT'S SEVERAL DAYS OF IMPACTS OF THE PARTICULAR RIVERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT A PARTICULAR PARTS OF THE STATE THEY ARE CONCERNED WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE IMPACTS INTO THE WEEKEND AND AND AFTER THE STORM HAS MOVED OUT OF HERE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE LEARNED FROM FLOODING IN NORTH CAROLINA OVER THE YEARS IS THAT WE NEED TO BE BETTER PREPARED TO BE ABLE TO PREDICT WHERE PROBLEMS WILL OCCUR.

>> THE FIREMEN SYSTEM F I AM A IN YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND SEE THE PREDICTION OF RIVER CRESTING.

IT COMES IN.

MEASUREMENTS OF 48 HOURS AHEAD OF TIME.

SO WE'VE LEARNED A LOT MORE ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT.

AND ALREADY YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND LOOK AT THE RIVER'S WE AREN'T AT THE SITUATION YET WHERE WE EXPECT THE RIVERS TO BE IT.

FLORENCE AND MATTHEW STAGE THERE SOME THAT ARE A LITTLE CLOSER AT THIS POINT.

BUT WE REALLY DON'T KNOW FOR SURE YET BECAUSE WE EXPECT.

RIVERS TO CREST STARTING FRIDAY SATURDAY AND MAYBE EVEN SOME INTO SUNDAY.

AND YOU GUYS TELL ME IF I NEEDED I THINK I'VE GOT THAT RIGHT.

SO HAVING WE JUST ARE MORE GAUGES AND HAVING THAT SYSTEM IN PLACE GIVES US A MUCH BETTER IDEA WHERE THE DAMAGE MIGHT BE IT HELPS US WITH EVACUATION ORDERS THAT HELPS US WHERE TO CONCENTRATE OUR RESOURCES.

>> AND CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT WORK IS BEING DONE WITH FEMA NOW IN THE EVENT THAT THIS RISES TO THE LEVEL THAT WE SEE PEOPLE FORCED OUT OF THEIR HOMES THINGS LIKE THAT WHAT'S BEING DONE NOW AND TO TO ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF WHAT'S HAPPENED IN RECENT YEARS TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE BACK INTO THEIR HOMES AFTER THESE EVENTS DONE RIGHT NOW TO GET READY IS BEING ON HOW TO TIME WITH FEMA TO PREPARE IN THE EVENT THAT WILL PEOPLE ARE FORCED OUT.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

I THINK AS YOU SEE UP AND AS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.

I THINK THE PARTNERSHIP EARLY IN AN EVENT IS WHAT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH OUR LOCAL JURISDICTIONS ARE STATE AGENCIES OR OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS TO INCLUDE FEMA.

>> RIGHT NOW THAT PRE LANDFALL DECLARATION IS FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE MEASURES, SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO MASK HERE SO SHELTERING IN EVACUATION.

AS WELL AS DIRECT FEDERAL ALLOWING US TO GET FEDERAL RESOURCES AND AS A PART OF AS A PART OF THAT PRE LANDFALL DECLARATION HAVING THEIR INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM HERE HAS ALLOWED US BOTH TO I THINK BETTER COLLABORATE AND COORDINATE ON ONGOING RESPONSE ACTIONS TO BE ABLE TO FORECAST AND PREDICT A LITTLE BIT BETTER WHAT POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL FEDERAL SUPPORT MAY BE NEEDED AND TO COMPRESS THAT TIMELINE TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH FEMA ON GETTING THOSE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IF NEEDED.

WE ALSO HAVE OUR TEAM IN RECOVERY WHO IS HERE AT THE STADIO SEE THAT OBVIOUSLY WORKS IN A VERY DIFFERENT PHASE OF OF THE OPERATION AND ARE ALREADY WORKING WITH FEMA TO LOOK AT POTENTIAL LOCATIONS IF THE THAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW COMES TO FRUITION AND WE SEE THE IMPACTS THAT WE ARE AT THIS POINT LOOKING AT TO BE ABLE TO EXPEDITE SUPPORT OUT TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND THOSE FAMILIES IN THE COMMUTE, THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE POTENTIALLY IMPACTED.

>> WHAT COMMUNITIES ARE YOU MONITORING CLOSELY THAT HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN IMPACTED BY STORMS AND ARE STILL TRYING TO RECOVER RIGHT NOW.

SORRY I DIDN'T I DIDN'T HEAR THE QUESTION CAN YOU WHAT UNITY IS ARE YOU CLOSELY MONITORING RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN IMPACTED BY STORMS ARE STILL TRYING TO RECOVER RIGHT NOW MOST OF THE COUNTIES IN SOUTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

WE'RE.

>> KEEPING A CLOSE EYE WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT.

WE ARE READY WITH THE RESOURCES.

IF THEY IF THEY NEED THEM.

>> AND WHAT EFFORTS.

HAPPENING RIGHT NOW TO MITIGATE FLOODING ON OUR ROADWAYS.

>> YES, 1 ONE THING WE'VE DONE OF ALL THIS WEEK AS WE'VE HAD CREWS OUT IN LOW-LYING AREAS AND KNOWN TROUBLE SPOTS, CLEANING DEBRIS OFF OF DROP-IN LUTSEN GREATS AND HANDLING THOSE TYPE OF SITUATIONS IN ADDITION AS THE STORMS BEEN COMING IN ALREADY THIS WEEK.

THEY'RE GOING AROUND AND WHERE THERE'S SHOULDER AND TRYING TO OPEN THAT UP TO GET ANY STANDING WATER OFF OF THE ROAD.

>> PREPOSITIONED ALREADY LIKE ANYTHING IN PLACE PREPOSITION ALREADY BUT WE HAVE OVER 2200 EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO THIS STORM ALL ACROSS THE STATE AND WE'RE READY TO SHIFT RESOURCES IF NECESSARY TO MORE TROUBLE AREAS BUT WE'VE GOT WE'VE GOT PEOPLE IN EVERY COUNTY.

>> TREASURY ON THE FEMA COULD YOU PROVIDE ANY MORE SPECIFICS ABOUT THE EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE MEASURES, ANOTHER'S THE SHELTERING PIECE OF IT LIKE.

THAT MEASURE SEEMS PRETTY BEGUN WIDE-RANGING.

>> THAT IS A THAT IS A FEDERAL TERM WITHIN THE POLICY GUIDANCE THAT'S HOW WE CATEGORIZE THE VARIOUS RESPONSE OPTIONS AND AND ACTIVITIES THAT WE DO FOR PRE LANDFALL.

GENERALLY FEMA WILL CONSTRAIN IT TO WHAT WE CALL EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE MEASURES WHICH IS ACTIONS TO EITHER IMMEDIATELY PROTECT LIFE SAFETY OR TO PREPARE TO PROTECT LIFE SAFETY IN THE COMMUNITY WITH A PART AS A PART OF THIS PRE LANDFALL DECLARATION.

THEY HAVE REALLY NARROWED IT TO MAKING SURE THAT THE RESOURCES WE'RE PUTTING TOWARDS SUPPORTING MASK HERE SO THE THE AREAS THAT ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON PEOPLE ARE WE GETTING THEM ARE WE SUPPORTING GETTING THEM OUT OF THE FLOOD WATERS ARE OUT OF THE POTENTIALLY IMPACTED COMMUNITY AS WELL AS SUPPORTING THEM FROM A HOUSING STANDPOINT SO SHELTERING THAT'S REALLY WHERE THEY'VE WHERE THEY HAVE NARROWED THAT FOCUS THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT AS WE LOOK AT THE LONGER-TERM HORIZON OF WHAT WE COULD SEE FROM THIS STORM OR OTHER ♪ FEDERAL PROGRAMS THAT COULD BE TURNED ON AS A RESULT OF ANY IMPACT THAT IS SEPARATE FROM THE FROM THE PRE LANDFALL DECORATIONS SO THIS WAS REALLY A STEP FOR US TO BE ABLE TO THEY TRY JUMP START AND GET AHEAD OF SOME OF THE COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION THAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS FOR THE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT THE PERSONNEL ALREADY IN THE STATE TO BE ABLE TO PIVOT FOR LONGER-TERM RESPONSE OR AS WE MOVE ♪ INTO RECOVERY.

>> AND WHAT COULD BOTH KIND OF THE CADENCE PF GOING ANOTHER DISASTER DECLARATION THAT NOT A PRE LANDFALL, BUT A MORE FORMAL ON.

SO GREAT GREAT QUESTION I THINK WHAT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS THE FOCUS OF ALL THE AGENCIES HERE AND ALL OF OUR LOCAL JURISDICTIONS IS GETTING.

>> RESOURCES EQUIPMENT PEOPLE TEAMS IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE IMMEDIATE LIFE SAFETY NEEDS THAT POTENTIALLY COME FROM THE STORM AS WE SEE WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.

WE WILL CONDUCT DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS ALONG WITH OUR LOCAL JURISDICTIONS TO DETERMINE.

WHAT LEVEL OF DAMAGE THEY HAVE SEEN OR ARE ANTICIPATING TO SEE BOTH TO PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL AS HOMES THAT DAMAGE DATA THAT WE GET ALONG WITH OUR COUNTIES AND THEN WORKING TO VALIDATE THAT WITH OUR PARTNERS AT FEMA ARE WHAT DETERMINES WHAT ADDITIONAL FEDERAL PROGRAMS EITHER FROM FEMA OR OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES COULD COULD GET TURNED ON ALL OF THAT IS BASED ON DAMAGE ELIGIBLE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT NUMBERS AS A RESULT AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE EVENT SO THOSE WILL BE DECISIONS THAT WE WILL MOVE THROUGH AS WE LOOK AT THE STORM IMPACTS BUT AGAIN I THINK THAT'S ONE THING PEOPLE THINK RESPONSE RIGHT NOW WHY WOULD RECOVERY BE HERE.

I THINK THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHY WE NEED RECOVERY IN ON THE FRONT END AND SO OUR PERSPECTIVE HERE IS WE START WITH RECOVERY VERY MUCH IN MIND AND SO HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR TEAM FEMA AND THE COUNTIES ARE ALREADY THINKING AHEAD THINKING ABOUT ANTICIPATING THOSE NEEDS TO GET DAMAGE NUMBERS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE RIGHT INFORMATION TO FEMA TO MAKE DETERMINATIONS ON WHAT OTHER PROGRAMS FEDERALLY COULD BE TURNED ON.

ONE LAST QUESTION LAURA LESLIE TO BURIAL AGAIN.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF US WATCH THE STORMY HERE ABOUT HOW SLOWLY IT'S MOVING AT A MUCH RAIN IS BRINGING WE'RE ALL THINKING BACK TO FLORENCE.

>> WHAT DID THE STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT LEARN FROM FLORENCE WHAT ARE WE DOING DIFFERENTLY THIS TIME TO PREPARE FOR THIS THAT MAYBE WE DIDN'T DO OR DIDN'T KNOW TO DO BEFORE FLORENCE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE DONE IS IN THE REBUILDING FROM MATTHEW AND FLORENCE WE HAVE WORKED TO REBUILD IN A MORE RESILIENT WAY.

MANY OF THE HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AND REPLACED.

WE ARE NOW ELEVATED.

AND MORE RESILIENT.

WE HAVE HAD AREAS OF OUR STATE THAT WE JUST SIMPLY DECIDED NOT TO REBUILD IT.

AND USING THOSE AREAS THAT CREATED PARKS IN OTHER CATCH BASINS THAT CAN HELP ABSORB.

FLOOD WATER.

AND PREVENT OTHER AREAS FROM FROM BEING FLOODED.

WE HOPE THAT THAT THIS EVENT WILL NOT APPROACH THE CATASTROPHIC NATURE OF BOTH OF THOSE HURRICANES BUT IT JUST SHOWS US THAT WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO RESILIENCY TO BUILDING CODE STANDARDS.

I THINK THAT ALSO WILL HELP INSURANCE RATES FOR PEOPLE IF WE BUILD BACK.

AND STRONGER AND CHOOSE NOT TO BUILD BACK IN CERTAIN PLACES.

AND I THINK WE CONTINUE TO HONE THE PROCESS OF MAKING SURE THAT WE SAVE LIVES WITH OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

THE COORDINATION IS EXTRAORDINARY AND THE FIRST RESPONDERS ARE BRAVE WHO WHO GO IN AND WORK TO TRY TO TRY TO HELP PEOPLE AND I THINK ALSO WITH RIVERINE FLOODING.

HAVING MORE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WHEN THESE RIVERS REQUEST SEEING THE DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE PAST.

GETTING THESE EVACUATION ORDERS IN PLACE IF THEY ARE NEEDED.

I THINK ALL OF THOSE HAVE BEEN LESSONS LEARNED AND HOPEFULLY WILL SAVE LIVES AND PROPERTY IN THE FUTURE.

OKAY DO WE HAVE FOLKS ONLINE?

WE DO NOT, OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH WE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN WE'LL COME BACK AND BRIEF AGAIN.