TL;DR: North Carolina officials say update your emergency plan and supply kit now for hurricanes, flooding and other hazards, using state flood maps, evacuation zones, alerts, insurance, and community help.
September Push Arrives as Peak Hurricane Season Hits
September is National Preparedness Month, and Governor Josh Stein and emergency management officials are urging North Carolinians to prepare by updating their emergency plans and supply kits, according to the NC DPS release titled September Is National Preparedness Month in North Carolina.
The message was issued from Raleigh on Sep 4, 2026, and was also summarized that day in the WECT report titled From flood risks to evacuation zones: How N.C. officials say you should prepare.
“We can’t predict the next weather event, but we can prepare for it,” said Governor Josh Stein.
Stein added that personal preparedness makes response and recovery possible, and urged residents not to wait for the next event to get ready, according to NC DPS. State officials framed the call as urgent because September through early October is typically the most active part of hurricane season, and the season does not officially end until November 30, according to the Spectrum News 1 report titled 30 years after Fran, NWS brings storm surge tool to NC.
Why Officials Are Focused on Flooding
One of the largest contributors to the loss of life and property in the state is flooding, according to NC DPS.
Officials said flooding is also one of the most difficult disasters to recover from, and that most insurance policies do not fully cover flood damages, making the recovery process much longer and more challenging, according to NC DPS.
That risk is not only coastal. Coastal communities watch for flooded roads, while flash flooding affects rush-hour commutes throughout the state, according to the NC Governor release titled Governor Stein’s September Column: Preparedness Starts Before Disaster Strikes. That Sept. 2 column lists the state’s recurring threats as severe thunderstorms, damaging winds, hail, tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, and increasingly, unprecedented heat.
The column also notes that families across western North Carolina continue recovering from Hurricane Helene, which hit hard in September 2024.
Turn On Alerts Before Danger Approaches
State officials urge residents to turn on the alert function on cellphones so they can receive wireless emergency alerts, according to NC DPS.
Many County Emergency Management Agencies also offer local emergency alert services, which are easy to sign up for and help residents be aware of approaching danger such as flash flooding, according to NC DPS.
The WECT summary of the state guidance likewise lists enabling alerts as a first step, advising residents to make sure wireless emergency alerts are enabled on mobile devices and to sign up for local alert services through county emergency management offices.
For families, Wake County’s related preparedness effort underscores the same point: emergency alerts provide warning before events including tornadoes, and minutes matter in fast-moving situations. That county program directs residents to sign up for custom alerts, but the statewide message is broader — use both phone-level wireless alerts and county systems.
Check Your Flood Risk by Address
Officials recommend understanding personal flood risk through two state tools, according to NC DPS and WECT.
The first is the NC Flood Inundation Mapping and Alert Network, known as FIMAN. The system provides current and forecast water levels from hundreds of streams and coastal locations across the state, according to NC DPS.
The second is North Carolina’s Flood Information Center. By entering a specific address, residents can find the property’s flood hazard risk, possible structural impacts, potential insurance rates, mitigation opportunities, and the locations of flood warning sites nearby, according to NC DPS.
WECT describes the same recommendation as assessing flood risks through FIMAN and the Flood Information Center to check specific property risks, structural impacts and mitigation options.
For preparedness-minded households, that address-level lookup is the practical starting point: it connects a home location to hazard information, warning sites, and mitigation ideas before water rises.
Know Your Evacuation Zone on the Coast
North Carolina’s Know Your Zone initiative helps residents understand evacuation procedures in coastal areas vulnerable to hurricanes and other hazards, according to NC DPS.
Coastal residents should visit KnowYourZone.nc.gov to determine their evacuation zones and learn procedures for hurricanes and other coastal hazards, according to WECT.
The Spectrum News 1 report on Hurricane Fran’s anniversary reinforces the point. Meteorologist Bob Bright with the National Weather Service in Wilmington said it is important to know whether you are in an evacuation zone and, if officials call for an evacuation, to have a plan and know what to do.
Residents can also find their evacuation zone through their county’s emergency management office, according to Spectrum News 1.
Flood Insurance Through NFIP
One of the best ways to protect property is by having a flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program, known as NFIP, according to NC DPS.
NFIP provides flood insurance to property owners, renters, and businesses, according to NC DPS. WECT likewise advises securing coverage through NFIP and notes its availability to owners, renters and businesses.
The emphasis matters because standard policies often fall short. Most insurance policies do not fully cover flood damages, according to NC DPS, which lengthens and complicates recovery.
Build a Three-to-Five-Day Emergency Kit
Every household should aim to have enough supplies for three to five days, according to the governor’s Sept. 2 preparedness column.
The kit should include water and nonperishable food, medications, baby food, and other necessities a family may need, according to that column. A solar- or battery-powered radio can help residents stay informed if power goes out.
The column warns against waiting until a storm approaches, noting that grocery store shelves go bare when a major storm is forecast. Planning ahead means households do not have to compete for supplies at the last minute.
Households should also create an emergency document kit, keeping important financial documents, identification, and emergency contacts together where the kit is easy to grab if evacuation becomes necessary, according to the governor’s column.
Make a Family Plan That Assumes Phones May Fail
Every family should know what to do if disaster strikes, including how members will get to safety, where they will meet if separated, and how they will stay in touch, according to the governor’s column.
Residents should not assume a cellphone will always be available. If family phone numbers are not memorized, the column advises printing them and keeping them with emergency documents so contact remains possible if a phone battery runs out.
Plans should also account for those who may need additional assistance, including older adults and people who cannot help themselves, according to the governor’s column. Supplies and transportation for pets or livestock should be part of the emergency plan as well.
Prepare Your Home and Records
A little preparation at home can make a real difference, according to the governor’s column.
Residents should know how to shut off utilities, including electricity, gas, and water, if necessary. Households should also make a list of important personal belongings and take photos of them, because a record of possessions can be valuable if property is damaged or destroyed and an insurance claim must be filed.
Help Neighbors and Join Community Response
North Carolina Emergency Management Director Will Ray said response depends on the whole community, according to NC DPS and WECT.
“Responding to an emergency really takes a whole-of-community approach. It’s all of us working together to help one another through difficult times,” said North Carolina Emergency Management Director Will Ray.
Ray said the State Emergency Response Team plans and trains with an all-hazards approach, but residents also play a role by volunteering with local nonprofits or community-based groups such as a Community Emergency Response Team, or by checking on neighbors and family, especially more vulnerable residents such as the elderly or those with additional support needs, according to NC DPS.
There are Community Emergency Response Team programs throughout the state that play crucial roles in community resilience, providing support in disaster aftermath and contributing to preparedness and response efforts, according to NC DPS. The agency describes them as volunteer teams that provide training and opportunities to serve.
Residents can also visit Volunteer NC and the North Carolina Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster to find ways to help, according to NC DPS.
Where to Get Traffic, Shelter and Daily Tips
For resources on family disaster preparedness, residents can visit ReadyNC.gov, which offers information on traffic, power outages, and shelters, according to NC DPS.
North Carolina Emergency Management also provides preparedness resources through a ReadyNC mobile app and website, including information in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language, according to the governor’s column.
Residents can stay informed by following @NCEmergency on Twitter and Facebook throughout September for daily preparedness tips, according to NC DPS.
30 Years After Fran: A New Way to See Storm Surge
Thirty years ago this week, Hurricane Fran made landfall along the North Carolina coast, producing up to 12 feet of storm surge and leaving a path of destruction from the shoreline to the Triangle, according to Spectrum News 1.
To mark the anniversary at Wrightsville Beach, the National Weather Service in Wilmington demonstrated a portable, color-coded pole that forecasters can bring into communities to show how high storm surge could rise above the ground where people are standing, according to Spectrum News 1. The colors match the agency’s storm surge risk maps.
“If we're forecasting 4 to 7 feet of storm surge, that means you could expect water levels to reach up to around 7 feet,” said Bob Bright, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wilmington.
Bright said that level is over most people’s heads and very dangerous. He also warned that storm surge can affect areas many miles inland, especially near waterways, according to Spectrum News 1. That inland flooding occurred during Fran, when surge pushed along rivers and waterways across southeastern North Carolina.
Spectrum News 1 meteorologists said this hurricane season has been relatively quiet so far due to El Niño suppressing Atlantic activity, but that is no reason to lower guard during the peak period. They also noted that the normal return period for a major hurricane like Fran is roughly 16 to 21 years, while 30 years have now passed, and coastal population and development have grown significantly since 1996.