Old Sears at Northgate Mall serving as shelter during Hurricane Dorian

Volunteers and first responders are also getting shelters ready ahead of the storm. That includes the old Sears in Northgate Mall.

Posted 5:02 a.m. Sep 4, 2019 — Updated 5:02 a.m. Sep 4, 2019

Aaron Thomas

, WRAL reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — Volunteers and first responders are also getting shelters ready ahead of the storm. That includes the old Sears in Northgate Mall.

The shelter opened Tuesday at 6 p.m. but there were no evacuees, so far. However, officials said they expect that to change Wednesday and when the Hurricane Dorian actually hits North Carolina.

We got a tour of the shelter. Tom Hegele said volunteers are expecting up to 500 people to fill these cots. Pets are welcomed, but are only allowed in a designated area. Service animals will be permitted in the shelter area.

The Red Cross will also have supplies for evacuees as they sign in to use the shelter. Hegele said using the old Sears as a shelter is a prime location because it’s near the interstate and major highways, giving people easier access for a place to get away from the storm.

Wednesday, we heard from local and state officials, including Governor Roy Cooper, urging people to get prepared now. Shelter volunteers echoed the same sentiments, encouraging residents to take advantage of shelters.

"People need to run from water and hide from wind," Hegele said. "When you've got water coming, whether it's surge coming in on the coast, flood waters, flash flooding, you need to get out of the area, get to higher ground."

Officials at the shelter said they plan to keep it open for three days after Hurricane Dorian hits.

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