Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a state of emergency Tuesday to prepare the District for an oncoming Category 4 hurricane.

The declaration will stay in effect for 15 days, according to a D.C. alert Tuesday afternoon.

Hurricane Florence is anticipated to make landfall Friday and bring heavy rain and wind to the East Coast. Both Carolinas and coastal Virginia are expected to be hit the hardest, and more than 1 million people were forced to evacuate their homes Tuesday.

The D.C. alert advised District residents and visitors to replenish emergency supply kits, especially if they are catering to dietary or medical needs. Residents should monitor local radio or TV stations for updated emergency information, clean out their gutters and empty out their rain barrels, according to the alert.

Bowser said residents in the storm’s path should listen to officials and create a plan about how to communicate once the storm passes, according to the email.

“If you have access and/or functional needs, take steps to prepare in advance, including informing your support network of your emergency supplies and planning for your critical needs, such as transportation, power and communications,” the email states.