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RALEIGH — North Carolina is ready for Hurricane Earl. That’s the word this afternoon from Governor Bev Perdue.

The State Emergency Operations Center was activated in anticipation of Hurricane Earl. It is where FEMA, Emergency Management, National Guard, Coast Guard, and other critical agencies gather to monitor and coordinate response to the storm.

“If they get cut off out there, how are we going to get to them quickly. if we have people injured, being able to deliver our medical surge capability and take care of those problems that may happen to us,” said Doug Hoell, Emergency Management director.

Emergency officials said they hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. Gov. Perdue said once the storm has passed, she wants to the cleanup to finish as quickly as possible so tourists can be back at the beach, hopefully by Friday afternoon. It entails a multiple agency effort—including Federal, state, and private agencies.

“On Labor Day weekend, the very second the beaches become safe enough, the hurricane has passed, and we can open up those roads and get our tourists and our residents back, we’re going to do that,” said Gov. Perdue.

The Emergency Operations Center will stay open around the clock until state leaders deem it is no longer needed.