(RALEIGH) -- North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue said it again Thursday morning..."Prepare for the worst and pray for the best." This as the likelihood of a category 3 hurricane could hit the state's coast on Saturday.

The Governor said the National Guard and other resources are ready to assist in the aftermath of the storm. "We have the Red Cross on the ground.  I talked to the director of the Red Cross, Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, they will do whatever we need to do.  We have volunteers all over North Carolina who are ready to help.  We have all the vehicles and all the supplies, so we are preparing as best we can," said Perdue.

Thursday morning Dare County officials added residents to the list of those who need to evacuate.  The Dare County Control Group has also ordered a mandatory evacuation for all Dare County residents beginning at 8:00 a.m., Friday, August 26. Dare County tourists had already been ordered to leave starting Thursday morning.  Late Thursday morning Currituck County officials order tourist to begin leaving immediately.

Wednesday night a mandatory evacuation for everyone was ordered for Hyde County.  Tourists on Ocracoke Island had been ordered to leave starting Wednesday morning.  The governor said she is concerned about reports that ferries evacuating people from Ocracoke are empty, and she urged people to take the storm seriously.

The Governor also said on Thursday morning that she is aware that officials in Carteret county are going to be considering whether to order evacuations there.