County emergency management director Warren Lee says his office is checking generators, food supplies and updating call lists. He urges residents to make their own preparations.

"Making sure that they've secured outdoor furniture, if they've got boats that they've taken precautionary measures with their boats either moved them or tied them down sufficiently. Just any last minute things that can be done."

Lee says there should be enough information by noon Thursday to let New Hanover County residents know whether there will be evacuations and closings.

Brunswick County
Brunswick County is bracing for Tropical Storm Hanna by preparing as if Hanna will hit the coast as a hurricane.

Officials in Brunswick County have checked equipment and called a list of residents with special emergency needs to make sure they have a plan.

Brunswick County Emergency Services Officials say all residents and visitors to the county should begin preparations Thursday.

Heavy surf and rip tides are expected. Officials are encouraging swimmers to exercise caution and avoid putting themselves in dangerous situations.

Myrtle Beach
Emergency operations are up and running in Horry County, South Carolina.

Representatives from a smattering of agencies are now staffing the county's emergency response center, including Red Cross and Humane Society staff.

Horry County spokesperson Lisa Bourcier is warning citizens in flood-prone areas to be prepared to move inland.

"Our biggest flooding potential areas are on the extreme North and South of the county, one is Garden City Beach, which is south, and then the northern part would be Cherry Grove area because there are low lying areas right along the coast."

The storm is expected to make landfall Saturday morning.

Do you have insight or expertise on this topic? Please email us, we'd like to hear from you. news@whqr.org.

© Copyright 2009, whqr