NC residents, Duke Energy preparing for Hurricane Helene

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Duke Energy is preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Helene – and is encouraging others to do the same.

Duke Energy said it’s closely monitoring the projected track of Helene, the latest tropical system developing in the Caribbean that’s expected to impact North Carolina later this week.

“Our line technicians and tree crews are diligently preparing and will be ready to respond,” Duke Energy said.

The storm is expected to bring heavy rains, high winds and localized flooding to the area early Friday morning.

“We encourage you to prepare now,” Duke Energy said.

Fayetteville bracing for potential Helene impacts

Residents in Fayetteville are already preparing for Helene. According to WRAL meteorologists, Fayetteville is expected to get up to 3 inches of rain between Thursday night and Friday.

Residents are also keeping an eye on the Cape Fear River, which is expected to get rain falling from Wake County. Fayetteville resident Craig Williams said Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Florence caused the Cape Fear River to flood his basement.

“When I’m standing, it’s 52 feet, and if you go a little bit further it’ll be 62 feet,” Williams said. “Anything over that … we’re going to be underwater.”

While the Cape Fear River isn’t expected to reach flood stage from Helene, county leaders are concerned that rainwater from northern NC counties will travel down river and impact low-lying areas in the southern half of the state.

“The ground is fairly saturated,” said Gene Booth, Cumberland County’s Emergency Management Director. “So any time you have saturated ground and additional 1-to-2 inches of rain, Wind gusts could potentially bring down power lines and cause sporadic power outages as well.”

While nine members of the Red Cross of Sandhills are preparing to head to Florida as Helene moves in, but they’re taking care of home first before they leave.

“We know that maybe [the] western part of North Carolina could be impacted, so we’re getting our shelter trailers together, cots [and] blankets so we can support that” said Phill Harris, Red Cross of the Sandhills director. “At home, we need to be ready as well.”

How to prepare for Helene

You need to be prepared when a hurricane hits. Here is a breakdown of everything you need to know so you and your family are prepared when Hurricane Helene hits North Carolina this week.

Make an emergency supply kit

Have an emergency supply kit ready so you can take it with you during an evacuation or when you are forced to stay at home for days.

You can find a complete checklist by clicking here or the link below.

Make a family emergency plan

It’s important to make a family emergency plan and be ready when severe weather strikes.

Fill out this form to make an emergency plan to share with your family. Then make sure everyone in your household has discussed the plan and knows what to do in the event of an emergency.

Know your zone

In the event of a hurricane or tropical storm, it’s important to know if you’re in an evacuation zone.

Evacuation zones highlight the areas that are most at risk when it comes to storm surge and flooding. Twenty-one coastal counties have established predetermined evacuation zones.

You can find your zone by using the map provided by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.

Be aware of evacuation routes

When a hurricane is approaching, it’s important to memorize coastal evacuation plans and routes in case of a severe storm.

Find your evacuation route by clicking here.

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You can report power outages on Duke Energy’s website or through the mobile app; you can also text OUT to 57801 or call 1-800-769-3766.

To see which areas are experiencing outages in real time, go to outagemap.duke-energy.com.

Don’t forget to sign up for WRAL News weather alerts for the latest updates about Hurricane Helene. Tune into WRAL News+ for live coverage leading up to, and during, the storm.