Press Releases

Members of a North Carolina incident management team that has been serving in Hawaii since May 19 returned home this weekend, and a larger team of 14 North Carolina emergency managers has replaced them. 

Cleanup and damage assessments are beginning in North Carolina’s western counties, but hazards remain due to high water levels and saturated ground.

While rains from Alberto are tapering off across western North Carolina, emergency officials are keeping a close watch on river and lake levels as the threat of flooding, landslides and mudslides remains significant.

Governor Roy Cooper will declare a State of Emergency for western North Carolina after heavy rains overnight prompted mudslides in multiple communities, closed portions of I-40 east of Asheville and triggered evacuations of Old Fort and a community near Lake Tahoma in McDowell County.

Though Subtropical Depression Alberto is weakening, the threat of additional rain means North Carolinians need to remain vigilant and watch for area flooding in low-lying areas and landslides in the mountains, Governor Roy Cooper said today.

As Subtropical Storm Alberto continues to bring heavy rains, flooding and the potential for landslides to North Carolina, Governor Roy Cooper urged residents to take seriously the storm, which has claimed two lives in the state.

Governor Roy Cooper and State Public Safety officials are making preparations for the potential of heavy amounts of rain in many parts of the state due to Subtropical Storm Alberto. The storm is expected to transition to a tropical storm later today or tomorrow. 

State and federal recovery officials announced the Rockingham County disaster recovery center opened to support survivors of the April 15 tornado will end operations at 7 p.m. Friday, May 25. Survivors may still register for disaster assistance online or via phone.

In anticipation of the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, increased traffic congestion is expected across the state, as motorists travel to their intended destinations.  North Carolina provides several vacation opportunities from the mountains to the coast which also invites an increased number

The suspect sought in the murder investigation of Trooper S. N. Bullard is in custody after an extensive search by state and local authorities.  On Wednesday, May 23 at approximately 3:30 a.m., investigators arrested Dakota Kape Whitt, 22, of Elkin without incident.  

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is mourning the loss of a member today from an on-duty patrol vehicle collision.

The State Highway Patrol is seeking assistance from the public in locating the driver involved in Monday night's pursuit in Surry County. At approximately 10:53 p.m., troopers attempted to stop a black BMW passenger vehicle that traveled through a checkpoint.

The 9th Annual North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM)/East Carolina University (ECU) Hurricane Conference will take place on May 22, 2018.

The fragile, sea-level terrain of the Outer Banks makes its infrastructure especially vulnerable when storms threaten.  Local and state officials say a new assessment effort will help the Outer Banks and coastal communities become more resilient during future disasters. 

Ten experienced emergency managers and fire service officials from North Carolina departed Saturday for Hawaii, to serve on an incident management team requested by Hawaii’s state emergency management agency as response continues to the erupting Kilauea volcano.