Wilmington port preparing for severe weather

With all the big cranes and heavy equipment, the port of Wilmington has to start early in preparing for severe weather.

Workers covered lumber in protective plastic sheets today, while cranes and warehouse doors were secured.

Sandbags are already in place in front of some doors. Containers were also moved around to square-off the stacks, making sure there were no lone containers up high.

Director of Port Security, Doug Campen said preparing the port is a two to three-day process.

"It's truly an exercise we go through almost on a yearly basis and we've gotten real good at it. We've had a lot of practice unfortunately here in eastern North Carolina, but as we work through it, it seems to be getting a little easier each year,” said Campen.

The port works closely with the Coast Guard on a daily basis, and will continue that communication during a storm. No ships are allowed to be docked during a storm either; they are all sent out to sea.