North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Emergency Management officials spoke yesterday about the winter storm, the second in a week, for which he’s declared a state of emergency and activated 114 national guard troops. PRE’s Meredith Radford has more.
Gov. Roy Cooper says it’ll be Eastern North Carolina that sees the most of this winter storm.
He says to make sure to report power outages directly to your power company, and to leave 911 lines open for emergencies.
NC Department of Transportation Secretary Eric Boyette says road conditions will deteriorate quickly as the storm hits.
“Once the storm hits, please stay put. Any ice that thaws will refreeze overnight because temperatures are going to be downright frigid.”
He added that any travel in the mornings will be particularly dangerous due to black ice. Boyette says more than 700 employees and contract crews with 300 vehicles will be working, and have supplied nearly 1 million gallons of brine, as well as restocking salt and sand. He says that with rain ahead of the winter weather, there is concern that the brine might wash off the roads in some areas, another reason to stay home.
Commander of the NC Highway Patrol Colonel Freddy Johnson says if you must drive, leave early to give yourself plenty of time to reduce your speed significantly and check road conditions at DriveNC.gov.
Cooper also says to continue watching the local weather forecast, which could change. He says people should check on their friends and neighbors to ensure they’re able to stay warm.
For Public Radio East, I’m Meredith Radford.