Forecasts from the National Weather Service predict Tropical Storm Debby will bring heavy rainfall to eastern North Carolina beginning on Tuesday and continuing through Friday.

Wayne County is one of 15 counties under a flood watch from 9 a.m. on Tuesday until 9 p.m. on Friday. Forecasts show Wayne County could receive between 7 to 10 inches of rain, mainly between Wednesday and Friday.

On Monday, Gov. Roy Cooper declared a State of Emergency ahead of the expected impact. The County of Wayne issued a statement on its Facebook page on Monday encouraging residents to make sure they have an emergency kit prepared, and to remove any hazards from their yard that could be blown around in gusty winds.

Anyone interested can register to receive free CodeRed weather alerts at waynegov.com/codered.

Duke Energy has also encouraged North Carolina residents to gather emergency supplies including bottled water, non-perishable food, a weather radio, a flashlight, cash, and medication. More preparation tips can be found by visiting the Duke Energy website.

The City of Goldsboro announced on Monday it was canceling it’s annual National Night Out event scheduled for Tuesday evening at Herman Park, due to rain in the forecast.