RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Governor Josh Stein declared a State of Emergency as a potentially catastrophic ice storm is headed toward North Carolina this weekend.
Several weather alerts, including a Winter Storm Warning and a Winter Storm Advisory, will take effect on Saturday night and remain in effect until Monday afternoon.
In Central NC, you can expect moderate to heavy mixed precipitation, mainly sleet and freezing rain. There is a possibility of seeing snow in you are in the Piedmont.
Roads, especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Significant ice accumulation on power lines and tree limbs may cause widespread and long-lasting power outages.
Here are five ways to survive the winter season and keep you and your family safe.
Power outages are always possible regardless of the season, when severe weather strikes. Click here for some tips on what to do before, during and after a storm.
When it's cold outside, many of us may resort to using supplemental heat like a space heater to stay warm. Fire departments don't discourage it, however, they emphatically encourage you to be very careful and follow safety protocols to prevent fires or burn injuries. First and most importantly, install smoke alarms to warn of a fire. You can contact your local fire department to get one for free and they'll install it. You should also have carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in your home to warn about a faulty furnace, fireplace or other venting problems. FULL STORY
Severe weather or natural disasters will almost always knock out power for some of us. The outage can last an hour or days. And, for most of us, our phone is our lifeline. It's also our main source of communication to call for help and check on family members and neighbors.
Click here for a list of a few hacks you should keep handy ahead of a storm.
When a storm knocks out the electricity, it's recommended that you keep the fridge and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Food can stay cold for about four hours, 48 hours in a full freezer and 24 hours in a half-full freezer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Full Story.
There's never a 'good time' for an outage; however, losing electricity during the winter can be extra brutal. Here are some tips we compiled from ready.gov and other sources to help you safely turn your home into a 'warming station' until power is restored. Many of these items are already in your home.
Full details here.
Part of I-440 was closed tonight after multiple cars including a Raleigh police car were involved in a crash.
Police tell us an officer was responding to a crash on I-440 westbound near the Wade Avenue exit when another car slid into the cruiser.
The officer is expected to be ok.
Weather is believed to have been a factor.
The North Carolina National Guard (NCNG) has mobilized resources across eastern, central, and western North Carolina in preparation to assist Emergency Management during the winter storm.
According to a news release sent by the NCNG, 454 personnel have been actived and 179 vehicles of all types will be used if necessary.
The NCNG is assisting in ways beyond the physical space. Protecting and defending North Carolina's digital infrastructure during natural disasters is a priority that has emerged since Hurricane Helene.
Duke Energy has positioned 18,000 workers across 20 sites in the Carolinas as it prepares for possible power outages from the winter storm.
Crews started arriving in the parking lot at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek late Friday and have been positioned with equipment ready to respond as needed. Jeff Brooks with Duke Energy said there are 1,000 workers at this site.
SEE ALSO | How long does food last in refrigerator and freezer after a power outage?
