On Tuesday, Gov. Josh Stein issued a state of emergency, activating the State Emergency Response Team to prepare for upcoming winter weather. With as much as six inches expected in central North Carolina, citizens are advised to stay up to date with weather alerts and check county social media.
Stein’s Executive Order 9, the declaration of the state of emergency, grants the secretary of the N.C. Department of Public Safety to seek resources from any government agency as well as reimbursement for costs created during the state of emergency.
Over 180 national guardsmen have been activated across North Carolina to areas of need. When in a weather-related state of emergency, the state uses the National Guard to assist local law enforcement in delivering supplies, transportation and rescuing victims.
According to the order, the NCDPS must waive the work limit hours of the N.C. Department of Transportation drivers transporting essentials, livestock and vehicles used for transportation services. Additionally, the order lifts restrictions on vehicles that transport essential goods. The order also prohibits price gouging.
After the state declares a state of emergency, towns like Chapel Hill are responsible for the direction of services. Bus transit is currently operating on limited routes only, and citizens should check their website for further suspensions.
For emergencies, the fire and police departments will be on call 24/7. Additional resources will be directed to areas of need through the N.C. Secretary of State and the governor.
When the weather drops below 32 degrees, Orange County establishes temporary shelters that can be utilized by community members struggling with homelessness or power outages. The Inter-Faith Council for Social Service in Carrboro has gender-separated shelters with limited availability for citizens in need.
The Town of Chapel Hill has advised citizens to be aware of safety tips related to cold weather. One common practice the Town advises against is using ovens or stoves to heat a home. It is also risky to plug space heaters into extension cords; instead, space heaters should be plugged directly into outlets.
Generators should also only be outdoors and away from windows to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Citizens are advised to keep a supply of boiled water and portable chargers on hand in the event of a power outage. Fallen trees may be reported to the Town using Clickfix, a local service provider; 911 should only be called if they pose an immediate threat.
