Greensboro, NC - U.S. Senator Kay Hagan today encouraged North Carolina families to be prepared in the event of a hurricane or tropical storm. Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) increased the chance of an above-normal season to 35 percent from the initial outlook issued in May.

"As we enter the second half of hurricane season, I encourage families to take action now to prepare for storms that could affect our state in the coming weeks and months," said Hagan. "Last year, Hurricane Irene caused extreme flooding and destruction that affected about 1.3 million North Carolinians, including families living hundreds of miles inland. We must ensure that we're as prepared as possible by creating an emergency plan, preparing a disaster kit, and learning evacuation routes before another major storm hits."

For information on how to best prepare your family in the event of a storm, including how to make an emergency plan and prepare a disaster kit, visit www.ready.gov.

Last year, Hagan and her staff were on the ground to support recovery efforts following Hurricane Irene. Individuals seeking assistance in the event of a storm should contact Senator Hagan's office at 877-852-9462.