North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley declared a state of emergency, and South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford urged Grand Strand residents to consider evacuating their homes Thursday as Tropical Storm Hanna continued heading toward the Carolinas.
The National Hurricane Center said early Thursday evening that Hanna, which was centered at 5 p.m. about 625 miles south-southeast of Wilmington, might not strengthen to hurricane status by the time it reaches the Carolinas coast early Saturday.
But, added National Hurricane Center meteorologist James Franklin, "People are reminded that there is very little difference between a strong tropical storm and a minimal hurricane."
Meanwhile, Carolinas officials are also planning for the possible arrival next Tuesday or Wednesday of Hurricane Ike, a much more powerful tropical system.
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