Gov. Mike Easley has declared a state of emergency in North Carolina as Tropical Storm Hanna churned away in the Atlantic Ocean with an eye on the state's coast.

Easley announced the declaration at a news conference Thursday.

Easley displayed an emergency number for anyone in the state who might need assistance. If you need help, please call the statewide hotline (888) 835-9966.

Nearing the end of the news conference, Easley also stressed preparedness. He said everyone should prepare a "kit" with three days of supplies including food, fuel, money and clothing.

Easley said that people should stay away from flood waters-even if only a few inches accumulate.

"In every one of these storms, when there's flooding, injuries and fatalities occur after the event is over," Easley said. "It's very dangerous."

And, with the threat of back-to-back storms including Hanna and Ike, the governor said locals need to educate themselves on the environment.

"Let me be clear," he said. "It's storm season. Pay close attention to what's going on in the Atlantic. We need every citizen to do their part so we can prevent injuries."

Hanna, responsible for at least 61 deaths in Haiti, was chugging through the Bahamas on Thursday with 70-mph winds, just short of hurricane strength. A hurricane watch was issued Thursday for Edisto Beach, S.C., north to Surf City, N.C. And a tropical storm watch was issued from Edisto Beach south to Altamaha Sound, Ga. A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours. A tropical storm watch means tropical storm conditions are possible within 36 hours.

The storm was tentatively predicted to hit somewhere along the Carolinas, and its winds were forecast to rake along more southern shorelines. Officials as far north as Washington urged people to prepare for the possibility of heavy wind and rain.

Ike could arrive in the Bahamas on Sunday; Tropical Storm Josephine was farther out to sea.