North Carolina Department of
Public Safety
For immediate
release
Jan. 21, 2014
Jan. 21, 2014
Contact: Julia Jarema
Phone: (919) 825-2270
Public Safety
Officials Urge State to Be Prepared for Winter Weather
RALEIGH – With cold temperatures and winter
precipitation headed to much of the state, North Carolina Emergency Management
and State Highway Patrol officials are urging residents and visitors to monitor
local weather conditions and use caution when driving this evening and tomorrow
morning.
“Our main concern
with this storm is difficult travel conditions during the evening commute and
into Wednesday, so we’re urging everyone to be safe,” said Public Safety
Secretary Frank L. Perry. “Don’t take any unnecessary risks and use extra
caution if you are driving.”
Weather forecasters have issued a
winter weather warning for several mountain counties and a winter weather
advisory for most of central and eastern North Carolina through Wednesday
afternoon. Temperatures will plummet late Tuesday afternoon as precipitation
begins to fall. The mountain counties are expected to see between two and six
inches of snow, while much of central and eastern North Carolina could get one
to three inches of snow with the heaviest amounts along the Virginia border
counties.
Perry said drivers
could encounter patches of black ice once the sun goes down. With wind chills in
the single digits overnight, there likely will be more widespread black ice
conditions Wednesday morning.
Travelers are asked NOT
to call 911 or the State Highway Patrol for road conditions. The lines must
remain clear for emergency calls.
You can find updated
weather and road conditions on www.readync.org web site or with the new
ReadyNC mobile app. The free app is available for iPhones and Android devices in
the AppStore and Play Store; search “ReadyNC.”
If
you must travel, the North Carolina
Highway Patrol recommends following these safety tips:
·
Reduce your speed.
Driving at the regular speed limit will reduce your ability to control the car
if you begin to slide.
·
Leave plenty of room
between you and other vehicles.
·
Bridges and overpasses
accumulate ice first. Approach them with extreme caution and do not apply your
brakes while on the bridge.
·
If you do begin to
slide, take your foot off the gas and turn the steering wheel IN THE DIRECTION
OF THE SLIDE. Do NOT apply the brakes as that will cause further loss of control
of the car.
While this storm is not expected to
bring large amounts of snow and ice, nor cause widespread power outages, public
safety officials said this is a good time to review winter safety tips:
·
Keep alternative
heating sources prepared. If you have a fireplace, store a good supply of dry,
seasoned wood. Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure your family knows
how to use them
· Do not use charcoal grills or
generators indoors; the fumes can be deadly.
· Turn off electrical appliances that
were on when the power went off to avoid a power surge when the electricity is
restored.
·
Use flashlights. Do
not use candles; they greatly increase the chance of having a fire in your home.
·
Limit your activities
to no more than two rooms and close off unneeded rooms.
·
Stuff towels or rags
in cracks under doors and cover windows at night to keep cold air out and warm
air in.
·
If you have well
water, fill up tubs and buckets with water so if the power goes out you still
have water.
·
Remember to eat and
drink regularly. Food provides the body with energy to produce its own heat.
·
Keep the body
replenished with fluids to prevent dehydration.
·
Wear layers of loose
fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. Layering clothes keeps you warmer than a
single layer of heavy clothing. Remove layers to avoid overheating,
perspiration and subsequent chill.
# # #
Julia
Jarema
Communications
Officer
NC Department
of Public Safety (Emergency Management)
919-825-2270
phone
919-422-8814
cell
