PRINCEVILLE — With Hurricane Earl churning off of the East Coast, coastal North Carolinians, especially in Edgecombe County, are preparing for what could be over the horizon.

In the wake of the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's devastation of the Gulf Coast, area authorities are not sitting idle, waiting for trouble to knock on their back door.

George Cherry, Deputy Director of Emergency Services of Edgecombe County Emergency Services, said that as of a briefing 8 a.m. Tuesday and reports from the National Weather Service in Raleigh, Edgecombe is expected to miss the bulk of Earl.

"They're (National Weather Service) still saying that it'll skirt off the coast of North Carolina," Cherry said. "They're forecasting it coming a little closer to the coast than before, and we could see tropical winds as far inland as I-95.

"At this point we're just monitoring and we're starting to have conference calls with our state office in Raleigh," added Cherry. "No decisions have been made so far."

As of this morning, Hurricane Earl is a category 3 hurricane with 125 mile per hour maximum sustained winds and is moving north/northwest at 16 mph.

The National Weather Service reports that Edgecombe can expect winds to pick up by Thursday evening with higher winds - 15 mph sustained - coming into the area following Ear's departure on Friday.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, hurricane force winds can extend up to 70 miles outward from the center of a storm, with tropical storm force winds extending up to 200 miles outward from the center.

Gov. Bev Perdue has weighed in on Earl, advising residents to be as prepared as possible.

"While it is too early to tell exactly what impact Hurricane Earl will have on our state, we do know that we all bear a responsibility to ensure we are ready for any type of emergency," said Perdue. "Hopefully this storm will more through the area quickly, so that folks planning to go to our beaches this weekend can still enjoy the long Labor Day weekend."

Edgecombe County Director of Emergency Services Butch Beach echoed Cherry, urging people to keep a look out for Earl's progress.

"People should keep an eye out," Beach said. "So far it's still following the track that's been predicted."

Beach added that communication between his department and the state's emergency management services indicates that the coast will be most affected by Earl, with Edgecombe not even getting rain from the Category 3 storm.

Edgecombe County Public Schools are also closely monitoring Hurricane Earl's path, making sure they are able to make an necessary plans to keep county students safe.

"We are in communication with the Edgecombe County Emergency Management and we rely on them for direction, however, we also monitor weather announcements and are doing advanced preparation," said Diane LeFiles, director of community relations for Edgecombe County Public Schools. "We have plans for securing buildings against high winds and preparing to protect equipment."

These plans include securing loose objects kept outside to prevent them from becoming projectiles during a storm and unplugging devices in the event of a high lightning storm.

Another source for ECPS is the local chapter of the American Red Cross.

"We communicate with the Red Cross," LeFiles continued. "Several schools are designated as Red Cross shelters and they are opened only at the direction of director of the local emergency management services and the local Red Cross."

In preparation for what Earl could bring, LeFiles advises parents to make sure that the contact information at school is up to date.

"Make sure the emergency contact on file at your child's school is correct," she said.

ECPS uses ConnectEd, an automated phone calling system, to quickly disseminate information to parents throughout the county.

"In order for that to work, we have to have the correct information," LeFiles said.

Parents now have the option of providing an email address to receive information regarding the school system as well as receive text message alerts.

For those who screen their calls, be on the look out for 641-2600 when weather situations like Hurricane Earl are in the forecast.

This is the number, LeFiles said, that will show up on caller identification when ConnectEd is used.

To stay abreast of how the school will respond to Hurricane Earl, parents are advised to monitor the ECPS website at www.ecps.us, watch SuddenLink Channel 3, call the What's Happening line at 823-5800 as well as watch local television, listen to local radio and read the local newspaper.

Lastly, LeFiles suggests having an alternate plan.

"Have a backup plan for childcare and alternate transportation," she said.

LeFiles added that a delayed start of the school day or an early release leave many parents in a last-minute bind trying to get their children home safely, particularly in bad weather.

Cherry also advises being prepared and this means being able to survive for at least 72 hours without outside assistance.

"Pack up a little travel kit," he said. "Once an event starts to unfold, the state won't start sending out resources until it has passed. Be able to look out for yourself for 72 hours."

Cherry suggests having cash on hand and all medications needed.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency suggests that residents prepare a kit or "to-go" bag in case of a hurricane.

The kit should include items like non-perishable food, water, a battery-powered radio, extra flashlights and batteries along with medical supplies, bedding and clothing, a first aid kit and copies of important documents.

The to-go bag is in case of an evacuation and includes the above items and a map.

FEMA also suggests making a plan for families which includes knowing how to contact one another in the event of an emergency, a meeting place both inside and outside of the immediate neighborhood and an evacuation plan.

In preparation for a hurricane or other disaster, people are encouraged to have:

• a non-electric can opener on hand,

• extra pair of contacts or eyeglasses,

• anti-bacterial hand wipes or gel,

• toilet paper,

• a large plastic trash bag for waste, tarps and/or ponchos,

• pet supplies,

• one gallon of water per person per day,

• extra house keys and car keys,

• and things to occupy a child including books, cards and toys.

September in the state's peak month for hurricanes and Perdue has proclaimed it as Emergency Preparedness Month as a way of encouraging families, businesses and schools to prepare themselves for hurricanes and other types of emergencies.