CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- A series of deadly storms that pummeled the Midwest combined with the recent rain in Charlotte and surrounding areas reminds us that hurricane season is here.

"It's not if you're going to have severe weather, it's when you're going to have severe weather," said WBTV meteorologist Al Conklin,

Getting the latest warnings when storms are headed your way, and knowing what to do before, during and after a disaster hits are all key to staying safe.

"You have to have a weather safety plan," said Conklin. 

"In other words know what your risk is."

First thing - keep up with the forecast.

"Stay on top of the situation by monitoring WBTV and if you can't, then mobile phone is the way to go," added Conklin.

The WBTV weather app is free.

It will give you warnings, alerts and keep you updated on information so you'll know what's going on.  

Today Harris Teeter launched a donation card campaign to support both the United Service Organizations (USO) and Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP), two organizations committed to supporting our troops and their families.

During the month of May, Harris Teeter customers at every Harris Teeter location will be able to make $1, $3, or $5 donations to Support Our Troops at checkout.  Similar community-based donation card campaigns hosted by Harris Teeter have raised more than $500,000 in a given month; the first annual Support Our Troops campaign raised over $445,000.  Harris Teeter is proud to support both the USO and WWP during this May campaign and is thankful for both the involvement of its associates and its customers as well as the good works of both nonprofit partners.

RALEIGH, NC (WBTV)- The measles outbreak reported earlier this month in North Carolina is spreading, according to the latest numbers from state health officials.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services public health officials and staff from local health departments are now investigating 19 cases of measles in Stokes, Orange and Polk counties as part of an outbreak that was first reported in mid-April, according to a news release from the NC Department of Health and Human Services. 

Since the outbreak began, state and local public health authorities have notified more than 1,000 people in Stokes, Forsyth, Guilford, Orange, Polk and Chatham counties who may have been exposed to the disease.