RALEIGH, N.C. (WAVY) — Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency Wednesday as North Carolina braces for Hurricane Helene.

The declaration comes after Hurricane Helene was upgraded from a tropical storm a Category 1 hurricane.

“Helene threatens heavy rain, flash flooding, landslides, and damaging winds to the mountains and Piedmont areas of our state,” said Cooper. “Now is the time for North Carolinians to prepare, make sure emergency kits are up-to-date and pay attention to the weather alerts in your area.”

Emergency Response Teams including are deploying equipment, personnel and resources to support impacted communities. This includes the North Carolina Swift Water Rescue Teams, Urban Search and Rescue Teams, resources from the North Carolina National Guard and specialized personnel for communications and incident management support.

North Carolina residents are advised to stay aware and keep a watch on the forecast. State officials advise these tips to make sure your family is personally prepared:

• Have multiple ways to receive emergency information, including watches and warnings. Make sure emergency alerts are enabled on your cell phone and monitor local new outlets and the National Weather Service.
• Ensure that you have multiple ways to receive warnings, especially with the potential for severe storms to be moving through during nighttime hours.
• Have an emergency plan. Know where you would go if you need to evacuate, especially if you live in a flood prone area.
• Gather emergency supplies or refresh your emergency kit. Visit ReadyNC.gov for info on how to build an emergency kit.
• Never drive through flooded roadways or around barricades. Turn around. Don’t drown.
• Make sure you know where to seek shelter if a tornado warning is issued for your area.
• Check to see if your local emergency management office offers emergency alert services for its residents. You can visit your county government website for more information.
• Avoid unnecessary travel. If you do not need to drive, stay home. You can find current roadway conditions by visiting DriveNC.Gov.