Raleigh, N.C. — Gov. Beverly Perdue declared a state of emergency Tuesday as authorities struggled to respond to crashes on the state's slick roadways and children romped in the snow.

By declaring the emergency, Perdue can call on the national guard for help, if need be. Her declaration also activates the state's Emergency Operations Center.

Authorities urged drivers to stay off the roads, which were tricky to navigate in some areas due to snowy and icy conditions. Rural roads, overpasses and bridges were among the most dangerous.

"It's gonna be slippery out there. It's gonna be slick," said Steve Halsey, a maintenance engineer with the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

DOT officials said they are "very concerned" about Wednesday's driving conditions and the possibility of black ice. WRAL traffic reporter Brian Shrader mirrored that sentiment.

"You could run across a slick spot at any point," Shrader said. "The morning commute (Wednesday) is going to be a real mess."