RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley announced today that North Carolina faces the potential of landslides and flooding early next week from Hurricane Katrina. The storm is expected to strengthen to a Category Four before it makes landfall this weekend on the panhandle of Florida and heads toward western North Carolina. As much as eight inches of rain could fall in North Carolina early next week which, coupled with an earthquake near Hot Springs on Wednesday, could increase the potential for landslides.

“This storm’s possible arrival in North Carolina is still days away, but I ask everyone to use caution and to have emergency supplies and plans in place,” Easley said. “We know what can happen when severe weather strikes our state. It is critical that everyone stay tuned to local weather forecasts for the latest information.”

State and local emergency management personnel are monitoring the storm’s progress and are ready to provide assistance to local communities.

Residents who live in areas that experienced landslides or mudslides last fall are advised to pay close attention. These slides usually happen suddenly and without warning.

Areas susceptible to landslides include:

• Natural or man-made steep slopes, embankments or fills, cut or excavated slopes, hillside depressions or hollows (especially near streams or springs), and eroded or undercut stream or river banks;
• Areas below steep slopes, especially those near streams;
• Areas on hills or mountainsides where runoff accumulates;
• Disturbed or modified slopes on mountainsides; and
• Places where roads cross drainages or streams on mountainsides.

Because most deaths from tropical storms and hurricanes occur from inland flooding, people need to follow some simple rules for staying safe in heavy rainstorms:

• Parents should keep their children from playing in creeks, streams and even street gutters following heavy rains. A small child can easily be swept into a culvert or storm drain by fast flowing water.
• Even small creeks and streams can suddenly become raging torrents, sweeping away everything in their path. Safety officials point out that it only takes a few inches of moving water to sweep an adult off his or her feet.
• Motorists should never try to drive into standing or moving water. Floodwater is deceptive, filled with silt and debris that can damage a vehicle’s brakes, transmission and undercarriage. And there is no guarantee that the road that was there before the storm will still be there.
• Moving water is the most dangerous. It takes less than two feet of water to float the average size car.

Residents throughout North Carolina, as well as visitors, should continue to monitor weather reports throughout the weekend. Families should have already put together their disaster supply kits and emergency plans for the 2005 hurricane season. If they have not, more information can be found at www.nccrimecontrol.org/familypreparedness.