The Governor also issued a new State of Emergency to ensure the state qualifies if federal assistance is needed to respond or recover from this winter weather event and to activate the State Emergency Response Team ahead of the storm’s arrival on Saturday morning. The State Emergency Response Team assists affected communities with any response needs. Additionally, the Governor provided an update on state preparations and guidance for navigating this weekend’s winter weather. He was joined by NC Emergency Management Director Will Ray and NC Department of Transportation Secretary Daniel Johnson. Use a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio or a weather alert app on your phone to receive emergency weather alerts.