CALDWELL COUNTY, NC (01-06-2017)…With a winter storm approaching, preparation is key. Another major factor will be the arctic blast coming in after the storm bringing temperatures down to single digits. Due to low temperatures we may not see much melting until after Monday night.
DON’T Call 911 unless it is a true Emergency…
Timing with this Winter Storm will play another role and it now looks like getting home on Friday afternoon may be of concern. Keep an eye on the forecasts and radar throughout the day today for any changes, updates and new alerts. We will do our best to keep you informed throughout the weekend…
From the National Weather Service…
***Winter storm warning remains in effect from 7 pm this evening to 1 pm Saturday***
341 AM EST FRI JAN 6 2017
* Locations…mountains and northern foothills of western North Carolina.
* Hazards…accumulating snowfall.
* Timing…rain will change to a mix of snow and sleet late Friday afternoon before changing to all snow Friday evening. Snow will continue overnight and taper off Saturday morning.
* Accumulations…4 TO 7 inches of snow…with isolated higher amounts. (As of 10:55pm January 6, 2017 updated to 4 to 8 inches of snow…not a big change but a change nonetheless.)
* Impacts…the heavy snow will make many roads impassable and may produce widespread power outages due to the weight of the snow on tree limbs and power lines.
* Temperatures…in the lower 20s.
* Winds…north 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
* Visibility…less than one mile at times early Saturday
morning.
Precautionary/preparedness actions…
A winter storm warning for heavy snow means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Significant amounts of snow are forecast that will make travel dangerous. Only travel in an emergency. If you must travel…keep an extra flashlight… food…and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.
Please report snow and ice accumulations by calling the national weather service toll free at 800-267-8101. Leave a message with your observation and the specific location where it occurred. You can also post your report to National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg Facebook or tweet your reportusing hashtag nwsgsp.
Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio or your favorite source of weather information for the latest updates. additional details can be found at www.weather.gov/gsp.
The Caldwell County NCDOT Maintenance Yard has been busy preparing for the storm by installing snow plows and spreaders to their trucks. They have spread over 8000 gallons of salt brine to the major roads throughout the county. Caldwell County Highway Maintenance Engineer Kenny H. Heavner took a few minutes out of his busy afternoon show us around the maintenance yard.
Yadkin Valley Volunteer Fire-Rescue Department Chief Robert Reid offered the following advice about the impending winter storm that is headed our way.
“The primary thing is to make preparations before the storm. Make sure residents have stocked up on food, water, medications, etc. ahead of time so they do not have to venture out in the storm.
They need to make sure their smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector backup batteries have been changed in the event they lose electrical service.
As far as roads…The best advice is once the storm begins, stay home and stay off the roads. NCDOT generally doesn’t do anything to the secondary roads, especially in outlying areas for several days so traveling will be dangerous.”
Last winter the Yadkin Valley Volunteer Fire-Rescue Department was faced with many stranded motorists on Buffalo Cove Road so please do not let this happen to you.
Here are some tips that we received from Caldwell County EMS last winter…
Here is a checklist of important things you should remember before, during and after the storm. Being prepared will help you better handle the limitations that result from a Winter Storm.
Don’t
* DON’T Call 911 unless it is a true Emergency. Call volume increases during inclement weather, and the combination of increased calls and deteriorating road conditions make for dangerous conditions for emergency crews.
* DON’T Call 911 for road conditions, Call 511 or visit http://www.ncdot.gov/traffictravel/
* DON’T Bring grills or generators inside. Running them indoors could be a deadly mistake, as both emit carbon monoxide that could poison you in a confined space.
* DON’T Sit in your running car unless you’ve cleared the tailpipe of snow. If carbon monoxide can’t escape into the open air, it could escape into your car and kill you.
* DON’T Venture out into the snow without letting someone know where you’re going. If you get stuck somewhere, there needs to be a friend or family member who can alert authorities if you can’t.
* DON’T Use cruise control if you drive in poor weather. It could take longer to slow your car if needed.
* DON’T Leave your car if you’re caught in a pileup. It’s far safer to stay in your car until you’re sure the scene is safe and there won’t be additional collisions.
* DON’T Stand under trees if they’re coated in ice. Branches weigh far more when they’re coated in ice, and they could kill you if they fall. It’s not worth the Instagram photo.
Do
* Begin your preparations as soon as possible. The rush will happen later, and some supplies may run out. If you’re in an area where impacts may or may not be felt, go ahead and prepare anyway. At worst, you’ll be stocked up and ready for the next big winter storm.
* Leave your phone plugged into the wall, especially if there’s a possibility of power outages. That way, if the power goes out, you’re guaranteed to have maximum battery life.
* Remember Airplane Mode on your phone. If you’re not expecting a call and don’t need to be connected to the Internet, if will preserve your phone’s battery for much longer in the event of a power outage.
* Ensure any medications that are prescribed to you are filled and in date.
* Abide by all special rules and restrictions put in place by authorities. If you are told to stay off the roads unless there’s an emergency, do what they say.
* If you must drive, wear a seat belt and be sure to leave extra distance between your car and the vehicles around you. It takes nine times longer to stop on an icy road than a dry one.
* Load up your car with at least one blanket, and make sure your gas tank is full before you venture out. If you get stranded or even stuck in gridlock, both could be very important.
www.facebook.com/caldwellcoems
Blue Ridge Energy Info:
Call Powerline at 1-800-448-2383 to report an outage.
Outage Map
Duke Energy Info:
To report an electrical outage, click on Report Now or call 800.769.3766
Outage Map
Granite & Sawmills Hardware can also help you prepare for the winter storm as they have heaters, plumbing supplies, snow shovels, snow sleds, salt and much more.
Granite Drug Center with its Radio Shack store also can help you prepare with radios, flashlights, batteries and more.
