PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine Gov. Paul LePage has declared a statewide emergency to allow state, county and local governments to better respond to approaching Hurricane Irene.

LePage issued his proclamation Friday afternoon after meeting with senior advisers and officials from the Maine Emergency Management to discuss the impending storm.

National Weather Service forecaster John Jensenius says there’s a possibility of hurricane-force winds, meaning 74 mph or more, and 20- to 25-foot seas offshore when the storm late Sunday in Maine.

Jensenius says there’s “very little to no chance” of a repeat of the last two hurricanes to target Maine, Kyle and Earl, both of which spun harmlessly to the east.