Just what the effects of Hurricane Irene are expected to be in the area remain somewhat of a mystery, with the best guess being strong winds and heavy rainfall, officials said this morning.

The city of Roanoke Rapids has declared a state emergency that comes with no curfew, but places employees on call throughout the duration of the storm, interim police Chief Jeff Hinton said this morning.

Dia Denton, assistant Halifax county manager for operations, said the storm is expected to produce heavy rain and strong winds. The National Weather Service is predicting tropical force winds for the immediate area.

The area is under a flash flood and high wind alert, according to the National Weather Service, which could mean winds between 35 miles per hour to 40 miles per hour with gusts of up 55 miles per hour late Saturday morning through Saturday evening.

People in low lying areas or those who live in mobile homes are advised to exercise caution and shelters for those who feel unsafe have been set up at William R. Davie and Enfield middle schools. In Northampton County shelters have been set up at Northampton County High School West in Gaston and Conway Middle School. These shelters open at 7 p.m.

Shelters for coastal evacuees are set up and opened at the Northampton County Cultural and Wellness Center in Jackson and the T.J. Davis Recreation Center in Roanoke Rapids.

The biggest impact from the storm is expected to be around 9 a.m. Saturday to 3 p.m. Saturday, Denton said.

People should prepare today for the storm, making sure they have bottled water and their prescriptions filled.

Hinton said the area could get 10 inches of rain and winds of around 40 to 50 miles per hour. “We're hoping it won't be so bad but people need to get everything in place.”