CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Weather officials report Tropical Storm Fay made landfall in Florida at 5 a.m. Tuesday morning. Now road crews across Charlotte are preparing for Fay to come to the Carolinas.

Almost a dozen street maintenance crews will fan out across the city Tuesday looking for storm drains that are covered with debris so they can make sure they're clear and water can flow into them freely.

Ken Martin from the Charlotte Department of Transportation said Tuesday morning, crews will clean up trash and debris from storm drains across the city to help prevent flooding if Fay drops record amounts of rain on the area.

“We want to make sure that debris is not there in case Fay does come our way and cause some flooding,” Martin said.

The American Red Cross said that it is preparing for the worst.

"Our first priority is right here in our local community," said Pamela Jefsen, director of Charlotte's American Red Cross.

Although the Red Cross’ emergency communication vehicle was on standby for about 24 hours Sunday, Jefsen told Eyewitness News all of their supplies and resources would stay in the Charlotte area if needed.

"So we want to make sure if we are going to be affected by a big storm, we will have our resources ready and available here first," she said. In fact, the local disaster team sent out an alert e-mail to more than 400 volunteers Monday.

Crews will be on certain areas like a culvert on Dunlavin Way off Eastway Drive in East Charlotte and Briar Creek along Monroe Road -- both have flooded in the past.

"It's a little early, but that's OK," said Martin. "That gives us time to get out and take a look at places that are possible flood areas."

In Florida, Tropical Storm Fay made landfall on the southwest coast. Schools, government offices and many businesses closed. It sustained winds of about 60 mph, which is below hurricane threshold of 74 mph.

With no major Florida hurricanes in the past two years, officials were worried that complacency could cost lives as they repeatedly urged people across the state to take Fay seriously.