Although Hurricane Florence was upgraded to a Category 4 on Monday, the National Hurricane Center said the hurricane likely hasn't reached peak intensity yet. Chapel Hill may be hours from the coast, but state officials are warning citizens not to underestimate the storm. The Daily Tar Heel answered your questions to make sure you're prepared for whatever Florence brings this weekend.
What foods should I have on hand?
At time of publication, UNC has not said whether or not Carolina Dining Services will stay open during potential inclement weather. Focus on non-perishable foods in case of power losses. Things like cereal, peanut butter, bread, trail mix and canned foods should tide you over.
Where can I get water?
If you didn’t make it to Target in time to snag water, you can stock up by filling whatever empty containers you have around and saving it. Bottled water can be purchased on Amazon in a pinch, but it's not a perfect solution in the event of any road blockages. Instacart delivers grocery orders within two hours, although be aware the website uses local grocery stores.
How do I prepare for power outages?
Prepare for a power outage by keeping all devices charged. If you have portable chargers or external batteries, make sure those are charged. During a power outage, unplug all electronics to protect from potential electric surges.
Apple doesn’t release official battery capacities of its phones, but be aware that different activities use different amounts of battery. If you lose power, turn on Low Power Mode and turn off Background App Refresh and Siri to save battery. To make a MacBook charge last longer, use System Preferences to turn on Energy Saver settings, dim the screen and close background apps.