North Wake News

Governor Josh Stein, alongside the State Emergency Response Team, has provided updates on the ongoing winter weather affecting North Carolina. Residents are advised to stay informed through local weather forecasts and limit travel due to hazardous road conditions.

"As winter weather continues today, we are doing everything we can to keep North Carolinians safe and respond to the effects of the storm," stated Governor Stein. "Frigid temperatures and wet roads are making travel dangerous, resulting in one tragic fatality. Please stay off the roads if you can. If you need help, reach out to your county’s emergency operations center or the North Carolina Disaster Case Management hotline. Please stay safe and check on your neighbors to ensure that they’re safe too."

Currently, approximately 6,105 power outages have been reported across the state, predominantly in eastern areas affected by ice accumulation. The State Emergency Response Team is actively supporting local responders and energy providers while the NC National Guard is stationed in central and eastern regions with 188 guardsmen and 60 vehicles ready for assistance.

The NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) warns against unnecessary travel as snow-and-ice-covered roads remain perilous. Numerous accidents have occurred due to icy conditions, including a confirmed fatality from loss of vehicle control.

Since Wednesday morning's snowfall onset, NCDOT crews have been engaged in clearing efforts using over 2,200 trucks and motor graders operated by more than 2,300 employees and contractors. Over 12,650 tons of salt have been deployed for road treatment.

NCDOT's cut-and-shove teams are working with utility partners to clear debris such as fallen trees and downed power lines from roads. The focus remains on interstates followed by US and NC routes before addressing secondary roads.

"Our crews are working around the clock to clear roads across the state and will not stop until the job is done," said NCDOT Secretary Joey Hopkins. "The snow and ice dumped on our state have left many roads too dangerous for travel. If you don’t need to be on the roads, please stay home and stay safe."

Significant thawing is anticipated by Friday afternoon when temperatures rise above freezing; however, black ice may persist during mornings due to overnight freezing conditions. Residents should consult DriveNC.gov for real-time travel updates before venturing out.

For details on power outages or preparing for continued cold weather conditions, visit www.readync.gov.

Hurricane Helene disaster survivors can contact FEMA at 1-800-621-3362 for assistance today; physical FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers in western North Carolina remain closed due to adverse weather.

The North Carolina Disaster Case Management Program (NC-DCM) continues support for Helene survivors via phone at 1-844-746-2326 or online at www.ncdps.gov/helene/dcm. To date, NC-DCM has processed applications from 2,143 survivors while fielding over 5,676 calls regarding housing needs among other concerns.