NC12 is now CLOSED from Marc Basnight Bridge to Rodanthe, due to impacts from the offshore nor'easter. Significant dune erosion & overwash at the Pea Island Visitor Center have made travel unsafe. Never drive through floodwaters. Check DriveNC.gov for travel updates.

Rebuilding western North Carolina means restoring the roads and bridges that connect our communities and help families and businesses move forward after Hurricane Helene. I’m grateful to the @USDOT for announcing $873 million in emergency relief funding to help repair the damage and support our state’s continued recovery.

The energy at the Haywood County Clash was electric! I had a great time kicking off the rivalry with the Mill Whistle and cheering on Pisgah and Tuscola alongside students and about 15,000 other fans.

As utility bills continue to rise, data centers and other large energy users must pay their fair share for the power they use and the new costs they put on our energy grid. I’ve pushed for a large load tariff to protect North Carolinians from the costs of data centers’ massive energy use, and Duke Energy has now agreed to a proposal for North Carolina’s first-ever large load tariff. The proposal would establish rules for data centers and other large energy users, including protections that: ⚡ Make data center contracts public 🔋 Ensure large energy users pay upfront for grid equipment built for them ⚡ Require large energy users to pay for a minimum of 75% of the power they’ve signed up to use 🔋 Guarantee long-term contracts ⚡ Require new large energy users to reduce power when Duke Energy requests it during times when the energy grid is strained While this proposal creates a new floor for what is possible, the Utilities Commission has more work to do to ensure families aren’t left footing the bill. My bipartisan Energy Policy Task Force, AG Jackson, and I will continue to push for cleaner, more affordable energy and protections for North Carolina consumers.

Every vote matters, and it’s important to know your options. I encourage you to vote in person during early vote, but if you plan to vote by mail in North Carolina’s November general election, tomorrow is the deadline to request your absentee ballot. Your request must be received by 5 p.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, October 20. Request a ballot online at votebymail.ncsbe.gov. Once you’ve completed your ballot, send it in ASAP because of a new law that requires all ballots to be received by 7 pm on Election Day to count. Make sure your voice is heard.

Attention Hatteras visitors and residents

🌊🌧️🌬️Nor'easter Hazardous Weather Update- Saturday 10/17/26 🌀A Nor'easter is forecast to develop off the NC Coast Saturday evening bringing strong winds, hazardous marine conditions, and minor to moderate coastal flooding across eastern NC. 👎 It is becoming increasingly likely that this will be a long duration event with impacts lasting into next week. Continue to monitor the forecast for any changes. 🕐 Coastal impacts are forecast to begin Saturday as a low pressure system strengthens off the NC Coast. Minor to moderate coastal flooding, beach erosion and ocean overwash at vulnerable locations remains possible, especially across Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands. Coastal flooding impacts at soundside and oceanside locations will begin Saturday night, lingering into next week with the greatest oceanside inundation expected during Sunday and Monday’s high tide cycles. 🏊‍♀️ High rip current risk for the entirety of the NC coast! ⚠️ Multiple coastal flood and wind advisories, watches, and warnings have been issued as of this morning along the coast. Be informed by following your local National Weather Service Office, local media, and sign up for alerts from your local emergency management agency. Useful Nor'Easter Links: 📌Full forecast update at ReadyNC.gov/weather 📌Follow @DareCountyGovt for the latest OBX updates. 📌Follow @hydecoem for the latest Ocracoke updates. 📌Follow @NCDOT_NC12 for the latest NC-12 updates along OBX. 📌National Weather Service Updates along the coast: @NWSMoreheadCity and @NWSWilmingtonNC 📌Latest on roadway conditions: DriveNC.Gov #ReadyNC #ncwx

A mandatory evacuation for all visitors on Hatteras Island takes effect at 8 p.m. tonight (October 16). A state of emergency has been issued for Hatteras Island. Latest updates: DareNC.gov/Storm.

Traveling on the #OBX this weekend? Please be prepared. Another storm system is forecast to set up off the NC coast starting Saturday. NC 12 & other coastal roads could see heavy wind, rain & overwash. NCDOT crews are prepared. You should be too. bit.ly/4jmbgGp #ncwx

⚠ Friday Evening Hazardous Weather Update (10/16/26)- Special Attention Coastal North Carolina ⚠ The @NWS has begun issuing wind and coastal flood watches for this weekend's coastal low. This system will likely develop into a Nor'easter, though uncertainty remains high in how long the system will linger off the NC Coast, but this has the potential to be a long-duration event. 💨 A High Wind Watch will be in place from Saturday evening through late Sunday night across Eastern Carteret County, the Northern Outer Banks, Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands. During this time, sustained winds between 25-35 mph are expected with gusts up to 50+ mph. A Wind Advisory will also be in place Saturday afternoon through Monday evening across mainland Dare, Hyde, and West Carteret Counties where sustained winds between 15-25 mph are expected with gusts up to 45 mph. An additional Wind Advisory will go into effect across East Currituck County Saturday afternoon where north to northeast winds between 25-35 mph are expected with gusts up to 50 mph. 🌊 A Coastal Flood Watch will be in place from Saturday evening through Tuesday morning across Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands where inundation of 2-4ft above ground level is expected. Coastal Flood Advisories will also go into effect Saturday evening through Monday night across the Northern Outer Banks, Carteret County, Southern Craven County, and Coastal Onslow Counties. Inundation of up to 1-3ft above ground level is expected in low-lying areas near shorelines and waterways within the advisory area. 🌧 While heavy rainfall and flash flooding is not the primary threat with this system, isolated flash flooding will be possible along the immediate coast through the weekend and into early next week. 👍 Our State Emergency Response Team partners at the @NCDOT report that crews are ready to respond to any impacts to NC-12 along the OBX. You can find updates specific to NC-12 by following @NCDOT_NC12 #ReadyNC #ncwx

There’s some rare air in the room! Thanks to @AppStateWBB for letting me crash your practice.

As Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month comes to a close, I want to recognize the many ways Latino North Carolinians contribute to our state and acknowledge the challenges many in this community have faced. No one should have to live in fear of being targeted because of the color of their skin or the language they speak. Every person matters, and everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. We must continue working toward a North Carolina where all people feel welcome and can thrive – this month and every month.

Find early voting locations and schedules in your county: vt.ncsbe.gov/EVSite/

Early voting is underway in North Carolina! Need to register? Same-day voter registration is available during early voting if you need to update your registration or register for the first time.  Make a plan to vote and have your voice heard.

Today’s @USDOTFRA announcement obligates $550 million in federal funding for the S-Line, bringing us closer to faster, more frequent and reliable intercity passenger rail connecting North Carolina, Virginia and beyond. N⭐C🚆 Learn More ➡️ bit.ly/3VS9qTQ @NC_Governor

.@FLONC and I cast our ballots today in Raleigh on the first day of early voting in North Carolina. The right to vote is the fundamental right that underpins all of our other rights, and our government works best when everyone does their part. Make your plan to vote now.

Everyone must feel safe every day wherever they are, including inside their homes. Domestic violence is a horrific crime that inflicts physical and psychological harm on victims. We need to support survivors so everyone lives their life free from fear and abuse. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month in North Carolina. By working together, we can build a culture where intimate partner violence is not tolerated.

Great news: $550 million in federal funding is on the way to North Carolina to support building the Raleigh to Wake Forest segment of the S-Line! The S-Line will connect North Carolinians to more transportation options within the state and beyond so they can get to school, work, or anywhere else they need to go and have faster and more reliable passenger rail service between Raleigh and Richmond. This project is a real step forward for rail infrastructure in North Carolina, and I look forward to continuing to keep people moving across the state.