Sen. Elizabeth Dole says officials have great things to say about North Carolina's emergency response to storms like Tropical Storm Hanna.

The North Carolina Republican dropped by the state's emergency operations center in Raleigh on Friday night for a briefing from state officials in advance of the storm making landfall. She also wanted to let them know the federal government is ready to help.

Dole said she's talked with Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator David Paulison and has been in contact with Gov. Mike Easley and the president of the American Red Cross. Dole is a former Red Cross president.

Dole also shook hands with several emergency responders waiting in line for a barbecue dinner before the evening's work began.