Inland Residents Prepare for Bonnie's Wrath

"The dogwood on the side collapsed on the house, messed up the shingles and busted through the front window and kitchen," Couch explained.

The Couchs' are cutting down dead trees so that unsteady limbs won't land on their new roof during the next heavy storm.

During Hurricane Fran, residents in Fayetteville and around the Triangle saw plenty of trees knocked down. Many lost power for days.

"We are inland, but we could still receive winds of up to 100 miles per hour as this storm intensifies," explains Emergency Management Center Director Cheryl Grabowski.

To ride out the storm, theAmerican Red Crossrecommends you stock up on canned goods and get a non-electric can opener. You should also replace old flashlight batteries with new ones.

And fill your bathtub or some containers with water. Even if Hurricane Bonnie doesn't hit North Carolina, officials say taking these steps will not be a waste of time.

"The worst thing that is going to happen is you are going to have canned goods on your shelf and when the next storm comes around you will be prepared," says Ronda Niver of the American Red Cross.

Officials say the best way to stay prepared for Bonnie is to keep an eye on the eye of the storm and don't procrastinate.

The American Red Cross also recommends you fill up your vehicles with gas, map out an evacuation route and in case the electricity goes out, have cash on hand. The ATM's won't be working.