East Coast Readies For Hurricane RICHMOND, VA (Associated Press) -


Virginia's governor has declared a state of emergency as officials and residents along much of the Southeast coast prepare for Tropical Storm Hanna.

North Carolina Governor Mike Easley says Hanna could bring 10 inches of rain to the state. He's pleading for residents to get ready.

Forecasters say the storm could become a hurricane by the time it hits land Saturday. Where that might be remains uncertain.

Officials are considering whether to order evacuations for the roughly 1 million people who live between Savannah, Georgia, and Wilmington, North Carolina. Emergency officials in South Carolina say a call for coastal residents to evacuate could come around noon, starting with voluntary evacuations.

Residents have been moving boats and booking hotel rooms inland while National Guard troops are preparing to deploy.
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