NC governor declares state of emergency as heavy rains expected as Nicole skirts the coast

NC governor declares emergency ahead of heavy rain

WILMINGTON, N.C. — Gov. Beverly Perdue has proclaimed a state of emergency as North Carolina’s coastal residents brace for drenching rains from a weather system interacting with approaching remnants of a recent tropical storm.

Perdue issued the precautionary declaration while Nicole was still a tropical storm Wednesday, but the system dissipated into rainbands now forecast to remain mostly offshore on their northward trek past the Carolinas.

Emergency planners from Wilmington to the Virginia state line have put shelters on standby amid forecasts of seven or more inches of rain — on top of up to 15 inches that have already fallen this week in some areas.

Flood watches were in effect through Thursday morning across parts of eastern North Carolina.