>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

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

OUR PRIORITY IS TO PROTECT LIVES AS WE MANAGE THE IMPACT OF THE STORM.

TORNADOES, STRONG WIND GUSTS AND FLOODING CAUSE POWER OUTAGES AND DAMAGE ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA.

POWER RESTORATION CREWS CONTINUE TO WORK DILIGENTLY TO RESTORE ELECTRICITY.

OUTAGES.

TOTAL OF ALMOST HALF A MILLION DURING THE DAY YESTERDAY.

THEY'RE DOWN TO CLOSE TO 20,000 NOW.

SO ABOUT 20,000 POWER OUTAGES NOW.

MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS STUBBORN STORM AND ITS EFFECTS ARE NOT OVER.

NORTH CAROLINA HAS NOT SEEN THE SUSTAINED DAMAGING HIGH WINDS THAT COME WITH THE HURRICANE.

THIS STORM BROUGHT A SLOW-MOVING, RELENTLESS RAINFALL ACROSS SEVERAL AND WITH SEVERAL TORNADOES ACROSS OUR STATE.

ONE HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, BUT WE BELIEVE MORE TORNADOES WILL BE CONFIRMED TODAY.

WE HOPE THEY WON'T BE ANY MORE, BUT IT TAKES A LITTLE WHILE FOR THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TO TO CONFIRM THEM.

AND WE MUST CONTINUE TO BE PREPARED.

MULTIPLE RIVER GAUGES ARE AT MAJOR FLOOD STAGE AND ADDITIONAL FLOODING COULD OCCUR THIS WEEKEND EARLY NEXT WEEK.

YOU CAN SEE THAT INFORMATION AT fiman.nc.gov.

THAT'S: fiman.nc.gov AND OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS, LIKELY AFTERNOON SHOWERS WILL INCREASE THE THREAT OF ADDITIONAL FLASH FLOODING, ESPECIALLY ACROSS EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

YESTERDAY I WENT DOWN EAST AND MET WITH FIRST RESPONDERS AT TWO STOPS IN KINSTON AND LOOKED AT DAMAGE CAUSED BY SUSPECTED TORNADOES THAT HIT LUCAMA IN WILSON COUNTY.

I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE EFFORTS OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AS WELL AS THE RESILIENT SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY SEVERE WEATHER.

TEAMS WILL BE THERE TO HELP AS YOU RECOVER.

THE STATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM WILL ALSO CONTINUE ITS WORK.

WE'VE ACTIVATED MORE THAN 374 SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA NATIONAL GUARD AND DEPLOYED SWIFT WATER.

RESCUE TEAMS HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN GETTING PEOPLE TO SAFETY.

OUR DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS BEEN WORKING TO CLEAR ROADS AND TO WARN PEOPLE ABOUT FLOODED AREAS AND DOWNED TREES.

WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR WORK AND THE EFFORTS OF ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

BECAUSE THE WATER FROM THIS STORM WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT SOME COMMUNITIES FOR SEVERAL DAYS.

WE ASKED PEOPLE TO KEEP LISTENING.

THE LOCAL OFFICIALS EVACUATE.

IF YOU'RE ADVISED TO DO SO AND DON'T DRIVE THROUGH FLOOD WATERS.

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

SEVERAL SHELTERS ARE OPEN FOR THOSE WHO NEED THEM AND YOU CAN VISIT YOUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT WEBSITE OR readync.gov FOR MORE INFORMATION.

TODAY, I'M JOINED BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR WILL RAY, TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY JOEY HOPKINS.

ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH STEIN.

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

THE 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.

WE ALSO HAVE FEMA REGION 4 ADMINISTRATOR ROBERT SAMAAN, WHO IS ALSO WITH US ON THE GROUND HERE IN RALEIGH.

OUR AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE LANGUAGE INTERPRETER IS DAVID PAYNE.

AND BEHIND THE SCENES, OUR SPANISH LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS ARE JACKIE METIVIER.

AND ERICA COOGLER.

AT THIS TIME, I WILL ASK DIRECTOR RAY FOR HIS UPDATE.

>> THANK YOU, GOVERNOR.

GOOD MORNING.

WE'RE CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THE IMPACTS FROM DEBBY AS THE SYSTEM FULLY EXITS THE STATE TODAY.

FROM TOWARD TORNADO DAMAGE TO FLASH FLOODING COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR STATE HAVE BEEN AND CONTINUE TO BE ENGAGED IN RESPONSE EFFORTS.

WE HAVE REPORTS OF TORNADO TOUCHDOWNS OR RELATED DAMAGE IN WILTON FRANKLIN.

GREENE, SAMPSON AND PENDER COUNTIES.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS CONFIRMED THAT AN EF 2 TORNADO TOUCHDOWN IN GREENE COUNTY COMMUNITY OF SNOW HILL AT 02:08 AM, ON THURSDAY MORNING.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH WILL BE CONDUCTING DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS ON THE OTHER REPORTED TORNADOES TODAY.

AS OF THIS MORNING, THERE ARE JUST UNDER 20,000 POWER OUTAGES STATEWIDE UTILITY PARTNERS REMAIN ENGAGED HERE AT THE STADIO SEE IN OUR CONTINUING RESTORATION OPERATIONS STATEWIDE IN MANY AREAS, TREES HAVE FALLEN DUE TO SATURATED SOIL AND HAVE TAKEN DOWN POWER LINES.

PLEASE TREAT ALL DOWNED POWER LINES AS ENERGIZED AND DO NOT APPROACH THEM.

WE HAVE 27 LOCAL STATES OF EMERGENCY AND ONE JURISDICTION WITH A VOLUNTARY EVACUATION ORDER REMAINING IN PLACE.

9 SHELTERS REMAIN OPEN WITH APPROXIMATELY 56 OCCUPANTS AS OF OVERNIGHT.

INLAND RIVERINE FLOODING REMAINS THE PRIMARY THREAT TO NORTH CAROLINA AS A RESULT OF DEBBY.

DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE RAINFALL ON ALREADY SATURATED GROUND.

WE ARE MONITORING LEVELS ON A NUMBER OF OUR RIVER BASINS WHERE AS OF THIS MORNING 5 FLOOD GAUGES OUR AT MODERATE OR HIGH FLOODING.

INCLUDING THE LUMBER RIVER AT LUMBERTON.

THE TAR RIVER AT LEWISBURG THE NEUSE RIVER AT CLAYTON, THE HALL RIVER AND THE LOWER PEE DEE RIVER.

ADDITIONAL 7 FLOOD GAUGES ARE FORECAST TO MODERATE OR MAJOR FLOOD STAGE THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND INTO THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK, INCLUDING THE CAPE FEAR RIVER, THE NEUSE, THE BLACK, THE NORTHEAST, CAPE FEAR AND PORTIONS OF THE LUMBER AND TAR RIVERS AS WELL AS THE WHOLE RIVER.

THERE WERE SEVERAL DAM BREACHES YESTERDAY AND WE'RE MONITORING 7 ADDITIONAL DAMS ACROSS THE STATE WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.

ARE DEPLOYED.

SWIFT WATER RESCUE TEAMS REMAIN ON STATION ACROSS THE STATE TO SUPPORT LOCAL OPERATIONS AS NEEDED.

AND SINCE WEDNESDAY HAVE HAD OVER 170 INTERACTIONS, THIS COULD BE STRUCTURE SEARCHED OR INDIVIDUALS EVACUATED OR RESCUE.

THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA NATIONAL GUARD AND THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL ALSO REMAIN DEPLOYED ACROSS THE STATE TO SUPPORT LOCAL JURISDICTIONS.

AND AS THE SKIES BEGIN TO CLEAR AVIATION ASSETS FROM BOTH AGENCIES ARE BEING BROUGHT UP AS A PART OF THE NORTH CAROLINA.

HE LOOK ON A RESCUE PROGRAM TO ASSIST WITH SEARCH AND RESCUE AS WELL AS COMMODITY SHIPMENTS TO IMPACTED COMMUNITIES.

WE'RE ALSO BRINGING INTO HEAVY LIFT HELICOPTERS VIA INTERSTATE MUTUAL AID TO BE ON STATION IN NORTH CAROLINA TO SUPPORT LARGE-SCALE MOVEMENT IF NEEDED.

A STATE MEDICAL SUPPORT SHELTER FOR THOSE THAT HAVE HAD TO EVACUATE BUT NEED SKILLED MEDICAL CARE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY THE NORTH CAROLINA OFFICE OF EMS, OUR HEALTH CARE COALITIONS AND OUR PARTNERS IN THE STATE MEDICAL RESPONSE SYSTEM.

THE SITE IN THE SANDHILLS AREA BECAME OPERATIONAL YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.

AS THE RIVERS CREST IN THE COMING DAYS AND CLEANUP BEGINS IN AREAS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED DAMAGE.

PLEASE AVOID TRAVEL IF POSSIBLE.

IF YOU MUST DRIVE, YOU MUST TRAVEL, PLEASE VISIT drivenc.gov TO CHECK ROADWAY STATUS.

THIS WEBSITE IS UPDATED REGULARLY BY OUR PARTNERS IN THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

YESTERDAY, FEMA APPROVED 8 ADDITIONAL COUNTIES TO BE ADDED TO THE PRE LANDFALL DECLARATION THAT WE RECEIVED EARLIER IN THE WEEK.

ALLEGHENY, CABARRUS, IREDALE, MECKLENBURG, ROWAN, STANLEY UNION, AND WILKES.

THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED 66 COUNTIES.

AND AS A REMINDER, THIS IS TO SUPPORT INITIAL EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE MEASURES RELATED TO MASK HERE, INCLUDING EVACUATION AND SHELTERING AND DIRECT FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.

AS WE LOOK TO TRANSITION FROM ACTIVE RESPONSE INTO RECOVERY OVER THE NEXT WEEK, WE WILL WORK WITH OUR LOCAL JURISDICTIONS ON DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS TO ASSIST IN DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY FOR ADDITIONAL STATE OR FEDERAL PROGRAMS.

FOR THOSE THAT ARE IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU'RE INFORMED THAT YOU HAVE A PLAN OF ACTION TO QUICKLY EVACUATE IF NECESSARY AND THAT YOU'RE RECEIVING INFORMATION FROM FROM RELIABLE SOURCES, SUCH AS LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICES AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

ENABLE EMERGENCY ALERTS ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE TO MAKE SURE YOU RECEIVE THOSE LIFESAVING NOTIFICATIONS.

AS A REMINDER, THE NORTH CAROLIN FLOOD INUNDATION MAPPING ALERT NETWORK WE'RE FINDING PROVIDES ACCESS TO THE STATE'S NEARLY 600 RIVER FLOOD GAUGES.

AS THE GOVERNOR SAID, VISIT fiman.nc.gov AND SIGN UP FOR ALERTS FOR THE GAUGES CLOSEST TO YOUR HOME.

REMEMBER TO UTILIZE 9-1-1, ONLY FOR EMERGENCIES.

WE WOULD ASK YOU TO REMAIN ALERT, INFORMED AND CHECK ON YOUR NEIGHBORS AND THOSE IN YOUR COMMUNITY WHO MAY NEED ASSISTANCE TOGETHER, TAKING CARE OF OUR FAMILIES, NEIGHBORS AND OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE'RE STRONGER AND MAKE FOR MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES.

FINALLY, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK THOSE THAT HAVE LEFT THEIR FAMILIES AND WORKED LONG HOURS RESPONDED TO EMERGENCY CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE AND HAVE STAFFED EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTERS AND INCIDENT COMMAND POST ACROSS OUR STATE TO KEEP ALL NORTH CAROLINIANS SAFE.

>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR.

RIGHT NOW, WE WILL HEAR FROM TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY JOE HOPKINS.

>> THANK YOU, GOVERNOR.

AND GOOD MORNING.

WE PEAKED WITH ABOUT 290 ROAD CLOSURES CLOSED AT 8.30, LAST NIGHT AS OF JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO.

THAT'S DOWN TO 205, AND THAT'S 10 PRIMARY ROUTES.

MAIN CLOSURES ARE IN ROBERTSON, CHATHAM, AND SAMSON COUNTIES.

THEY HAD THE HIGHEST VOLUME.

PEOPLE CAN CHECK TRAVEL CONDITIONS LIKE ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED.

IT MENTIONED A drivenc.gov.

THIS SITE DOES HAS A DOES HAVE A TOGGLE FOR TROPICAL STORM DEBBY.

LET YOU SEE THE CLOSURES DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE STORM.

YESTERDAY WE HAD RECORD USE ON THAT SITE IN SOME USER'S EXPERIENCE.

SOME ISSUES OF GETTING IT TO TO LOG ON AND COME HOME.

WE WE WORK WITH OUR SISTER AGENCY, THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO INCREASE THE BANDWIDTH AND IT SHOULD BE WORKING FINE TODAY.

AS HAS BEEN STATED SEVERAL COUNTIES EXPERIENCED TORNADOES ARE TORNADO LIKE WINDS YESTERDAY AS THE STORM PASSED THROUGH THE STATE.

NOTABLY OUR MAINTENANCE FORCES RESPONDED TO AND REMOVE TREES ACROSS WILSON COUNTY AS A STORM CAME THROUGH THERE AND TOUCH DOWN.

OUR STAFF WAS BUSY SETTING BARRICADES AT THE HUNDREDS OF CLOSURES ACROSS THE STATE.

AND I DO WANT TO STRESS TO ANYONE THAT ENCOUNTERS A BARRICADE OR A ROAD CLOSED SIGN OR HIGH WATER SIDE TO REMEMBER TO TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN.

NEVER DRIVE AROUND BARRICADES.

THEY'RE THERE TO PROTECT YOU.

AND IT IS ALSO AGAINST THE LAW TO DO SO.

OUR CREWS ARE OPEN IN WROTE WHEN IT'S SAFE TO DO SO.

BUT SOME OF THESE ROADS HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY THE RISING WATER IN NEED FOR THE REPAIRS.

OUR CREWS ARE ASSESSING THIS DAMAGE AND WILL WORK TO GET THOSE OPEN AS SWIFTLY AS POSSIBLE IN OTHER LOCATIONS, WE HAVE TREES THAT HAVE FALLEN ON POWER LINES AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THE LOCAL POWER COMPANIES ONCE THEY DEEM IT SAFE, WE CAN WORK TO CLEAR IN REOPEN THESE ROADS.

AND EVEN THOUGH THE STORM HAS MOVED OUT QUICKLY, RIVERS ARE EXPECTED TO CREST IN THE COMING DAYS AND SOME ARE PROJECTED TO REMAIN IN MODERATE TO NEAR MAJOR FLOOD STAGE FOR SEVERAL DAYS INTO NEXT WEEK.

AS DIRECTOR, A MENTION.

AND WHILE NO INTERSTATES HAVE MAJOR IMPACTS AT THIS TIME, WE ARE MONITORING FOR POTENTIAL FLOODING AREAS AROUND I-95 IN LUMBERTON, I-40 IN BURGAW, AND US-74 NEAR BOARDMAN AND WHITEVILLE.

THE PORTS OF WILMINGTON AND MOREHEAD CITY OR OPERATING ON A NORMAL SCHEDULE TODAY.

THE WILMINGTON HARBOR HAD BEEN CLOSED TO INBOUND AND OUTBOUND VESSEL TRAFFIC.

BUT IT REOPENED TO THE VESSEL TRAFFIC EARLIER THIS MORNING.

WE HAD ALSO SUSPENDED OR REDUCED WAS ON A NUMBER OF OUR FERRY ROUTES IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE.

BUT THANKFULLY, ALL OF OUR FERRIES ARE BACK ON THEIR NORMAL SCHEDULE.

HOWEVER, STILL RECOMMEND YOU.

EVERYONE CHECKED THE FERRY SCHEDULES BEFOREHAND.

IF YOU'RE TRAVELING EAST.

NORTH CAROLINA ABOUT TRAIN PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE WAS INTERRUPTED THURSDAY AFTER THE STORM CAUSED TREES TO FALL ACROSS THE TRACKS.

SEVERAL TRIPS BETWEEN RALEIGH AND CHARLOTTE HAD TO BE CANCELED AND 2 OTHERS WERE CANCELED THIS MORNING, A RAILROAD PARTNERS ARE CHECKING THE TRACK AND WE EXPECT NORMAL PASSENGER SERVICE TO RESUME LATER TODAY.

ONCE EVERYTHING IS CLEARED UP, YOU CAN VISIT AMTRAK .COM FOR THE LATEST SCHEDULES.

OUR INTEGRATED MOBILITY OF DIVISION HAS BEEN IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH PUBLIC TRANSIT TRANSIT SYSTEMS ACROSS THE STATE.

AS OF LATE THURSDAY, THERE WERE 9 TRANSIT SYSTEMS THAT HAD NO SERVICE DUE TO THE STORM AND NON OTHERS THAT WERE ONLY PROVIDING LIMITED SERVICE.

WE ALSO HAD A FEW DRIVERS LICENSE OFFICES CLOSE YESTERDAY DUE TO WEATHER, BUT EXPECT THEM ALL TO BE OPEN TODAY.

PROTESTS WERE ALSO CANCELED THURSDAY AT 45 DRIVERS, LICENSE OFFICES DUE TO UNSAFE CONDITIONS AS OF 09:00 AM THIS MORNING PROTESTER BEING CONDUCTED AT ALL.

BUT 2 OFFICES AND A TOTAL OF 30 LICENSE PLATE AGENCIES CLOSE YESTERDAY DUE TO IMPACTS FROM DAVIE THIS MORNING.

THERE ARE NO LICENSE PLATE AGENCY IS CLOSED DUE TO THE STORM.

ANY CANCELED APPOINTMENTS WILL BE RESCHEDULED AT A TIME THAT'S CONVENIENT FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.

EVEN THOUGH DAY BE HAS LEFT OUR STATE.

WE'RE STILL SEEING REMNANTS FROM THE STORM AND I IMPLORE CITIZENS TO STAY AWAY OR FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE KILLED WHEN THEY TRIED TO DRIVE THROUGH THE FLOODED ROADS AFTER STORM IS STORMS HAVE PASSED.

PLEASE DON'T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN AND AGAIN, CHECK DRIVE-IN SAFER ROAD CONDITIONS AND NEVER DRIVE AROUND FLOODED ROADS OR BARRICADES.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

SECRETARY HOPKINS NOW ASK ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH STEIN TO COME FORWARD.

>> THANK YOUR GOVERNOR COOPER.

FIRST, I WANT TO OFFER PRAYERS TO EVERYONE IMPACTED BY THE STORM HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST, ESPECIALLY THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES.

SECOND, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS FOR.

WORKING NONSTOP TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE TO TO RESCUE FOLKS WHO ARE IN DISTRESS.

THERE'S NO JOB MORE IMPORTANT THAN SAVING THE LIVES OF NORTH CAROLINIANS.

AND THEY HAVE DONE INCREDIBLE WORK FOR PEOPLE.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR UTILITY WORKERS IN THE DOT EMPLOYEES AND EVERYONE ELSE FOCUSSED ON GETTING THINGS BACK TO NORMAL AS QUICKLY AND SAFELY AS POSSIBLE.

THERE ARE MANY HOMES AND BUSINESSES FACED WITH THE SAME CHALLENGE AS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND EVEN AS THE THREAT BEGINS OF DEBBY BEGINS TO RECEDE.

WE MUST REMAIN VIGILANT ABOUT OTHER RISKS.

SCAMMERS WHO TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HARD WORKING NORTH CAROLINIANS WHO ARE PREPARING AND TRYING TO GET THEIR LIVES BACK IN ORDER AFTER THE STORM.

HERE'S SOME TIPS FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE STORM.

BEWARE OF ANYONE SHOWING UP AT YOUR HOUSE OFFERING TO DO SOME KIND OF SERVICE OR REPAIR.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH OUT OF STATE COMPANIES COMING AND CHASING STORMS AND RIPPING OFF.

TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS.

RESEARCH COMPANIES BEFORE YOU SIGN A CONTRACT WITH THEM TO DO WORK ON YOUR HOME.

MAKE SURE THAT CONTRACTOR IS LICENSED.

GET MORE THAN ONE WRITTEN ESTIMATE ABOUT THE DEAL TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE GETTING THE BEST ONE.

AND FINALLY, WHEN YOU CHOOSE YOUR COMPANY, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A WRITTEN CONTRACT.

THAT INCLUDES A CLEAR DESCRIPTION OF THE SCOPE OF WORK AND THE PAYMENT SCHEDULE DO NOT PAY TOO MUCH UP FRONT OR PAY FOR ALL THE WORK UNTIL IT IS DONE.

FINALLY, IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT USUALLY IS.

ALSO WANT TO REMIND FOLKS BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR PRICE GOUGING.

WE'VE HAD A HANDFUL OF COMPLAINTS 13 SO FAR.

WHEN GOVERNOR COOPER SIGNED THE STATE OF EMERGENCY THAT TRIGGERS OUR STATE PRICE GOUGING LAW WHICH PROHIBITS ANY SELLER FROM CHARGING TOO MUCH FOR A GOOD OR SERVICE.

IN THESE TOUGH TIMES.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF NORTH KIND OF BUSINESSES DO THE RIGHT THING BY THE PEOPLE OF THE NORTH CAROLINA.

THEY TRY TO SERVE THEIR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE IN NEED, BUT THEY'RE ALMOST ALWAYS A FEW BAD ACTORS WHO TRY TO EXPLOIT THE MOMENT AND DO NOT PLAY BY THE RULES.

IF YOU SEE SOMEONE CHARGING UNREASONABLY EXCESSIVE PRICE FOR ANYTHING THAT YOU NEED TO PRESERVE THE LIFE SAFETY HEALTH, WHERE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING DURING THE STATE OF EMERGENCY.

PLEASE LET MY OFFICE KNOW YOU CAN FILE A COMPLAINT AT 877-5-NO-SCAM, OR ncdoj.gov/pricegouging WHEN WE SEE THESE CASES WE WILL ACT.

WE WON BACK MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS FOR NORTH CAROLINA.

CONSUMERS WHO ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF AFTER STORMS IN THE PAST.

TIMES LIKE THESE REQUIRE THE BEST OF US.

THAT WE LOOK OUT FOR OUR FRIENDS, OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR COMMUNITY, SOMETHING THAT THE PEOPLE OF NORTH CAROLINA ARE EXCEPTIONAL AT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

GENERAL STINE.

WE'LL NOW TAKE QUESTIONS.

AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVE QUESTIONS, YOU CAN COME OVER TO EITHER SIDE TO THE MICS, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

>> ADAM FOR THE NEWS AND OBSERVER.

THIS IS FOR YOU, THE GOVERNOR OR DIRECTOR ON THE DAM BREACHES, CAN YOU PROVIDE ANY MORE DETAIL ABOUT WHERE THOSE ARE AND MAYBE ALSO WHERE THE WATER IS HIGH RIGHT NOW, KIND OF WHERE THE STATE'S LOOKING POTENTIAL RISK.

>> SO THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.

AND I THINK FIRST AND FOREMOST, I THINK WE WANT TO MAKE SURE FOLKS ARE AWARE OF SOME INFORMATION THAT WE SHARED ABOUT THE FLOODED RIVER GAUGES THAT WE ARE ALSO MONITORING BOTH US ALONG WITH OUR PARTNERS IN DOT AND THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL.

CURRENTLY, WE HAVE DAMS ACROSS GUILFORD MORE HARNETT, CUMBERLAND, ROBESON ROW AND WAKE AND MECKLENBURG AGAIN, THESE ARE NOT ONES THAT ARE THAT ARE URGENTLY OR IMMINENTLY THAT THAT WE HAVE IMMINENT CONCERNS ABOUT THESE ARE ONES THAT WE'RE SIMPLY ALONG WITH DQ AND OUR LOCAL JURISDICTIONS KEEPING AN EYE ON WHERE THE WATER LEVELS ARE AND WHAT POTENTIAL INUNDATION COULD LOOK LIKE.

>> AND THERE ARE SOME THAT DID BREACH, IS THAT CORRECT?

WHERE THOSE THERE?

>> SOME, I BELIEVE, IN HARNETT AND WE WOULD HAVE TO GET YOU OUT.

I DO WANT TO MISSPEAK.

SO WE'LL GET YOU THE OTHER 2 LOCATIONS WE HAD.

BUT THERE WERE SOME ACROSS THE STATE THAT THAT HAVE BREACHED AND LOCAL JURISDICTIONS DOT PARTNERS.

THE DEQ ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN SUPPORTING THOSE.

>> MICHAEL PERCHICK, ABC 11.

DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON IF THERE ARE ANY STORM DEATHS, IF SO, WHERE THOSE OCCURRED AND ANY POTENTIAL INJURIES OUTSIDE THAT INITIAL INCIDENT.

>> WE HAVE ONE CONFIRMED STORM DEATH IN WILSON COUNTY.

THERE IS AN UNCONFIRMED STORM DEATH IN ROCKINGHAM COUNTY AT THIS POINT.

BUT WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF THAT.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BELIEVE.

THAT'S IT.

AND WE'RE WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.

I WAS THERE IN WILSON COUNTY YESTERDAY AND A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO NEW THE GENTLEMAN WHO LOST HIS LIFE AND THIS TOUGH TIME FOR FOR PEOPLE FOR SURE.

>> MICHAEL HYLAND FROM CBS 17, YOU MENTIONED BEING IN WILSON YESTERDAY AS FAR AS THAT SCHOOL IS DAMAGES OR BEEN ANY TALK YET OF WHAT THE STATE'S ROLE MAY BE IN TRYING TO HELP THE COMMUNITY WITH REBUILDING FROM THE DAMAGE THAT THEY HAVE THERE.

>> SAY THAT AGAIN, MICHAEL?

>> THE SCHOOL THAT WAS DAMAGED, HAS THERE BEEN ANY TALK YET WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS ABOUT WHAT ASSISTANCE THE STATE MAY PROVIDE AND HELPING THEM WITH THAT?

>> SO I TALKED WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT YESTERDAY ABOUT WHAT THEY PLAN TO DO.

THEY'RE GOING TO GET AN ASSESSMENT, AN INSPECTION OF THE BUILDING.

THIS TORNADO WAS VERY POWERFUL AND IT IS DESTROYED.

A LOT OF THE 6TH AND 7TH GRADE CLASSES.

BUT LEFT THE 8TH GRADE CLASSES UNTOUCHED.

I THINK THERE'S A FAULT OF MAYBE TRYING TO HAVE SOME.

THE CLASSES OPEN IN THE SCHOOL.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT'S GOING TO BE POSSIBLE OR NOT.

THEY OBVIOUSLY ARE GETTING IN TOUCH WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

THEY HAVE INSURANCE FOR THIS.

WE WILL WORK WITH THEM ABOUT ANY OTHER STREAMS OF FUNDING THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO THEM.

THE SUPERINTENDENT WAS VERY DETERMINED THAT HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE CHILDREN GOT TO SCHOOL, GOT THEIR EDUCATION.

AND SO THEY WERE GOING TO LOOK AT ALL OF THEIR OPTIONS REGARDING WHAT THEY WOULD DO NEXT.

>> AND ATTORNEY GENERAL STEIN CAN YOU TALK ANYMORE JUST GENERALLY ABOUT THE KIND OF COMPLAINT WHO ALL RECEIVED RELATED TO PRICE GOUGING, LIKE WHAT KINDS OF THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?

>> THE MAJORITY OF COMPLAINTS WE'VE SEEN HAVE HAD TO DO WITH GAS.

THERE'S ALL THERE'VE ALSO BEEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT GROCERIES, ABOUT HOTEL ROOMS, ABOUT RENTAL CAR AGENCIES, BASICALLY ANY GOOD OR SERVICE THAT WE NEED TO STAY.

WELL CAN POTENTIALLY BE AN INSTANCE OF PRICE GOUGING.

I ALSO WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT JUST BECAUSE THE COMPLAINTS HAVE COME IN DOES NOT MEAN THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 13 INSTANCES OF PRICE GOUGING.

WE INVITE PEOPLE TO FILE COMPLAINTS WITH US BECAUSE IT'S DIFFICULT FOR FOLKS TO APPRECIATE WHETHER OR NOT PRICE GOUGING OCCURRED.

THAT'S WHY ARE WE CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS?

AND THEN IF WE CONCLUDE THAT THERE HAS BEEN PRICE GOUGING, WE WILL ACT AGGRESSIVELY.

>> OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

AND STAY SAFE OUT THERE, EVERYBODY.