Mid- and late January historically brings the coldest temperatures of the year for Cherokee County.
Freezing temperatures and inclement weather can pose a threat, especially to those in vulnerable communities who struggle with housing, transportation and food insecurity. Here are some local resources designed to help combat common struggles over the winter.
Emergency & road information
For mountain regions, traveling with potential snowfall and icy conditions can become dangerous. Cherokee County residents can use the N.C. Department of Transportation’s website or call 511 to get real-time road conditions, weather treatment schedules and travel alerts.
When planning to use your vehicle in winter weather conditions, being prepared is important in case of an accident or becoming stuck. Your emergency winter car kit should include items to keep warm (blankets, hats, gloves, socks, etc.), a flashlight, first-aid kit, food and water rations, phone charger, tools (ice scrapers, shovels, jumper cables, etc.) and traction aids (sand, cat litter, tire chains, etc.).
During the winter, ensuring your car is prepared with various fluids, proper tires and enough gas in the case of an emergency is crucial to avoid putting yourself in further danger. Including these items in an emergency kit will ensure you can stay warm, communicate with help, and stay safe and healthy while getting your car unstuck or waiting for emergency services to arrive.
If you find yourself in a situation where your vehicle is stuck, it’s important to remain with your vehicle rather than traveling away, use your hazard lights to help alert other drivers and emergency personnel of your location, and keep your exhaust clear of snow if using your vehicle for heat to avoid carbon monoxide build-up.
Cherokee County Emergency Management and local fire departments can help to provide information about alerts for winter storms and preparedness tips for making it through the storms. Cherokee County Emergency Management utilizes NIXLE for emergency alerts; sign up by texting your zip code to 888-777.
Having some kind of emergency alert system in place can help you have extra time to prepare for what is to come. ReadyNC.gov provides helpful tips for what to do before, during and after a winter storm to help keep you and your family safe.
Energy & home assistance
Preparing your home for winter weather is important due to the high chance of power loss, difficulty traveling and dangerous conditions. When building a home emergency kit, consider adding rock salt or environmentally safe ways to melt ice, sand, or cat litter to help with traction, snow shovels or other snow removal equipment, heating fuel (wood, gas, oil, etc.), and extra clothing and blankets to help keep you warm.
It is important to never use charcoal grills or camp stoves indoors for cooking or heating because the fumes created by these sources can be toxic and harmful to your health. When using space and electric heaters, you should keep them at least 3 feet away from anything flammable, place them on a solid flat surface, plug them directly into an outlet, not an extension cord, and turn them off if leaving or going to sleep.
Space heaters account for as much as 40% of home heating fires and contribute to around 80% of home heating fire deaths each year. If you use a fireplace to heat your home each year, you should plan to have it cleaned and checked for safety. Your house should have a functional fire extinguisher, and all family members should be aware of how to use it.
During the year to prepare for winter weather, you should take steps to help winterize your home. This includes insulating walls and attics, caulking and weather stripping doors and windows, clearing rain gutters, fixing roof leaks and checking structural ability, and insulating pipes and drip faucets during cold weather to keep pipes from freezing.
In the case of extended power outages, try to locate possible secondary locations for shelter. Many community centers and churches will announce the ability to shelter members of the community in the case of inclement weather. Those who are homeless can check with the Murphy Homeless Shelter or dial 211 to contact NC211 for immediate, location-specific information on shelters and referrals.
The N.C. Department of Health & Human Services has the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, which helps low-income residents of North Carolina save energy, reduce utility bills and stay safe in their homes. This program prioritizes the elderly, disabled, families with children, high energy users, and the energy burdened.
This program can be utilized year-round to help meet energy needs. Income and other eligibility requirements can be found at ncdhhs.gov.
Food & health
Food insecurity is something many struggle with year-round, but this can be even more difficult during the holiday and winter months. Cherokee County has on-site food distribution centers at the Andrews Sunrise Senior Center, Bellview Center, Cherokee County Food Bank in Andrews, Sharing Center, Hiwassee Dam Center, Hiwassee Dam Senior Center, Mount Liberty Baptist and by appointment at Moore House Ministry in Murphy.
Check each location for specific schedules for pick up. It’s recommended that you keep at least a seven-day food supply of non-perishable food and a gallon of water per person per day.
During a winter storm, you should remain indoors unless it’s necessary to go outside. If you must leave your home, walk carefully on snowy and icy walkways to avoid injury. You can exercise to help increase body heat, but be sure not to overexert when exercising or shoveling, as this can cause major issues such as a heart attack, one of the leading causes of death in the winter.
When outside, cover your mouth with a scarf to help protect your lungs from breathing in extremely cold air. You should try to keep your clothing dry and change when clothing gets wet, as this is when it loses its insulating value.
You should wear lots of thin layers of clothing to help stay warmer. This makes it easy for you to remove layers to remain comfortable. Most of your body heat is lost through the top of your head, so wearing a hat is crucial to staying warm.
Signs of frostbite include the loss of feeling or a pale look to fingers, toes, earlobes and the tip of the nose. Signs of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and visible exhaustion.
If you or anyone around you exhibits these symptoms during a cold-weather event, it is vital to seek medical help as soon as possible.