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Murphy – A winter storm watch has been issued for a wide area including Cherokee County ahead of a potentially catastrophic winter storm that could bring treacherous, icy conditions over the weekend.
Cherokee County Emergency Management will begin posting updates on local conditions starting at 10 a.m. Friday, with updates at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., for the duration of the situation. The website is: https://www.cherokeecounty-nc.gov/176/Emergency-Management-Services.
The National Weather Service/Morristown, Tenn., which includes Cherokee County, N.C., advised a mixture of snow, sleet, and freezing rain Saturday, mainly freezing rain and sleet Saturday night, and freezing rain and rain for Sunday, with significant ice accumulation becoming likely especially across the Plateau, and western sections of the Tennessee valley, and southwest Virginia.
Significant ice accumulation can cause outages and make travel difficult and dangerous.
According to Duke Energy, winter precipitation can increase the risk of power outages:
- A quarter inch of ice can bring down trees and branches onto power lines.
- A half inch or more can weigh down the lines themselves.
- Six inches of heavy, wet snow can cause similar problems.
State response
“This weekend’s winter storm is likely to impact most of North Carolina, so please make a plan now to keep yourself and your loved ones safe,” said N.C. Gov. Josh Stein. “A State of Emergency is in effect, and our State Emergency Response Team is activated and ready to assist impacted communities. The most important thing you can do right now is prepare for potential power outages and have emergency supplies ready.”
Light precipitation is forecast to begin early on Saturday, spreading from west to east. Storm impacts could include hazardous driving conditions, especially on bridges and overpasses, damage to tree limbs from ice accumulation, and power outages that have the potential to be long lasting. Portions of the state may experience major impacts, especially in southwestern North Carolina.
In preparation for the winter storm:
More than 1,600 N.C. Department of Transportation crews and contractors have been pre-treating roads, restocking salt supplies and getting ready for the storm. Crews had placed more than 800,000 gallons of brine to pre-treat thousands of miles of state-maintained roads across North Carolina. The state agency will continue to monitor the storm’s expected impacts to roads and is ready to work around-the-clock in shifts to plow and treat snow and ice until state-maintained roads are cleared. Chainsaw crews will be deployed to cut and remove downed trees and debris from roads and work with utilities when downed trees involve power lines.
With concurrence from the Council of State, the Governor directed the waiver of certain transportation regulations for vehicles supporting emergency response efforts across the state. This action allows for better coordination of response efforts.
“Winter storm watches have been issued for most of the state with impacts from this storm expected to last into early next week,” said Director of Emergency Management Will Ray. “We will continue to work with the entire State Emergency Response Team – local and state governments, the private sector, and our non-profit and volunteer partners – as the forecast continues to evolve to ensure we can support our 11 million North Carolinians.”
“We urge people to get prepared now for what’s shaping up to be a very cold period for our state,” said State Transportation Secretary Daniel Johnson. “Please don’t try to drive once the storm hits unless it’s necessary. Please protect yourselves, your families and everyone responding to this storm by being patient and playing it safe.”
What to expect
Safety first: Stay away from downed power lines and storm debris. Use generators safely and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Outages possible: Despite recent improvements, severe weather can still cause extended outages, especially in areas with downed trees or debris.
Restoration takes time: Crews will begin assessing damage and restoring power as soon as it’s safe. In some areas, restoration may be delayed due to blocked roads, hidden damage or hazardous travel conditions.
Avoid driving: Icy roads are dangerous. Prepare in advance and avoid driving until conditions are safe. Carry a chainsaw with you if you must travel.
Be careful for falling trees and limbs: Ice-laden trees and tree limbs often fall under the weight and can be deadly.
Preparation tips
To prepare for winter weather, North Carolina Emergency Management officials recommend these tips:
- Pay close attention to your local forecast and be prepared for what’s expected in your area.
- Keep cell phones, mobile devices, and spare batteries charged.
- Use a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio or a weather alert app on your phone to receive emergency weather alerts.
- Dress warmly. Wear multiple layers of thin clothing instead of a single layer of thick clothing.
- Store an emergency kit in your vehicle. Include scraper, jumper cables, tow chain, sand/salt, blankets, flashlight, first-aid kit, and road map.
- Gather emergency supplies for your pet, including leash and care supplies, enough food for several days, and a pet travel carrier.
- Do not leave pets outside for long periods of time during freezing weather.
- Look out for your friends, neighbors, and the elderly during winter weather.
If your power goes out:
- Ensure generators are operated outside and away from open windows or doors to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Never burn charcoal indoors or use a gas grill indoors.
- Properly vent kerosene heaters.
- Use battery-powered sources for light, instead of candles, to reduce the risk of fire.
Visit ReadyNC.gov for more information on winter weather safety and preparation. For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov, or follow NCDOT on social media.
Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corporation
Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corporation (BRMEMC) is preparing for the possibility of an extreme weather event over the next several days to a week.
“While uncertainty remains high among the weather ‘experts’ about who will get what kind of weather, it seems clear to us that we will at least get some type of significant winter weather,” BRMEMC advised on Wednesday morning. “For this reason, BRMEMC is asking its members to immediately begin preparing for potential outages (including extended outages) and take steps to ensure your personal safety should electric service be interrupted for extended periods.”
Following are some preparedness tips:
Winter Storm Preparedness & Energy Conservation Tips:
- Prepare for medical needs, such as having a plan for loved ones who depend on medical equipment that requires electricity.
- Have nonperishable foods (and water) on hand such as canned foods, peanut butter, bread or crackers.
- Have a manual can opener available.
- Gather blankets, sleeping bags, and extra clothes, including hats and gloves.
- Have flashlights, battery-powered lanterns, backup chargers and extra batteries on hand.
- Keep all electronic devices charged ahead of the storm.
- For those with a wood fireplace, check your supply of firewood.
- Fill your car tank with gas.
- Plan for alternate heating sources in the event of power loss.
“Even if power outages do not occur, extremely cold weather is still in the forecast,” BRMEMC advised.
Small steps BRMEMC members take to conserve energy now can positively impact their electric usage and ultimately their bill.
- Set thermostats to 68 degrees or lower and adjust window units accordingly. Warming and cooling the home accounts for 55% of residential energy usage.
- Add extra blankets and lower your thermostat at night and when you are away from home.
- Open blinds, drapes and curtains to let in warmth from the sun and close them at night to keep out the cold.
- Caulk or weather strip around windows, exterior doors and any gaps.
- Close the fireplace damper when not in use.
Duke Energy
Duke Energy is preparing for Winter Storm Fern and encourages customers across the Carolinas to prepare now and stay safe ahead of possible multi-day power outages.
Rick Canavan, Duke Energy storm director, said, “While the forecast is still uncertain, it’s very possible that we could experience the Carolinas’ most extreme winter storm in over 20 years.
“Our teams are tracking this storm closely, getting equipment and crews in place now so we can respond quickly once it’s safe. Because winter weather can change quickly, we want customers to have the information they need and be prepared before conditions deteriorate.”
More information
Winter Storm Fern could bring snow, sleet or freezing rain as soon as Saturday, creating hazardous travel conditions and, in areas with heavy ice accumulation, the potential for extended outages.
Tree and vegetation crews are trimming in advance of the storm to reduce outage risks.
More than 18,000 workers will be ready to respond as soon as conditions are safe, according to Duke Energy.
This includes Duke Energy lineworkers based in the Carolinas, third-party vegetation and power line crews, and Duke Energy lineworkers from Florida, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.
Duke Energy serves about 4.7 million electric customers in the Carolinas – about 3.8 million in North Carolina and nearly 860,000 in South Carolina.
Download or update the Duke Energy smartphone app: Available via Apple Store or Google Play.
Confirm Duke Energy account login info: Log in via My Account or mobile app to review and update contact info and communications preferences.
Sign up for outage alerts: Receive outage information and restoration updates by text, phone or email.
Know how to report an outage: Submit outage reports online, via mobile app, by texting OUT to 57801 or calling 800.POWERON (800-769-3766).
Other services
Neither Peachtree Broadband nor Murphy Electric Board posted information about upcoming weather, but conditions and measures recommended by Duke and BRMEC apply.
What you can do now
Make a plan and prepare an emergency kit: This includes charging phones, gathering flashlights and extra batteries, and other easy, critical actions.
Use the enhanced American Red Cross Emergency app: The free app, sponsored by the Duke Energy Foundation, offers emergency checklists, interactive maps of open shelters and the ability to monitor multiple locations for weather alerts.