Governor Declares State of Emergency in Preparation for Winter Storm | Eastern North Carolina Now

    News Release:

State preparing for additional 4 to 8 inches of snow

    Raleigh, NC     Governor Pat McCrory activated the State Emergency Response Team for the second time in two weeks to respond to a statewide winter storm. This morning, he declared a state of emergency and waived certain vehicle weight and service hour requirements to expedite storm response.

    "We are preparing for as much as eight inches of snow across the majority of the state," Governor McCrory said. "The State Emergency Response Team that consists of multiple state and local agencies worked throughout the afternoon Tuesday and overnight and they have teams mobilized and ready for the next storm."

    Yesterday's band of snow showers brought 1-3 inches of snow across much of the state. A more significant winter storm is predicted to move through the state later this evening and through Thursday bringing additional accumulations of 4 to 8 inches of snow across most of the state with forecasts being adjusted by the hour. The extreme southeastern portion of the state will likely see a wintry mix of snow, sleet and rain.

    Between midnight and noon, State Highway Patrol troopers responded to approximately 700 calls for service; of those, 400 were collisions. Yesterday, troopers responded to nearly 3,000 calls for service including 2,300 vehicle crashes. The Highway Patrol typically responds to approximately 1,000 calls in a 24-hour period.

    Yesterday, the governor implemented the Adverse Weather Policy for state employees enabling those workers who are not essential to storm response or daily operations to remain home.

    Two people died yesterday in separate weather-related vehicle crashes when their car's slid off the road and ran into a tree.

    "Motorists are reminded to monitor the weather and road conditions," said Public Safety Secretary Frank L. Perry. "We've staged transportation crews and law enforcement teams to respond quickly to incidents especially around known trouble spots. But the best way to remain safe is to stay off the roads."

    Perry said 800 law enforcement officers from the Highway Patrol, ALE, Wildlife, and Division of Motor Vehicles License and Theft, along with 86 National Guard soldiers are staged across the state to respond to stranded motorists.

    After working overnight and this morning to clear and treat slick roads and trouble spots, NCDOT crews across the state began spreading salt brine on roadways to prepare for the next round of winter weather anticipated to arrive later today. Once snow and ice begins to stick to the roadways, crews will again work around the clock clearing and treating affected roads.

    "Over the past two weeks, our team has shown incredible fortitude and dedication as we have prepared for and responded to the multiple storms that have hit our state," NCDOT Secretary Tony Tata said. "Those efforts continue as we get ready for even more winter weather, and I again thank motorists for their cooperation in staying off the roadways so our crews can work as safely and quickly as possible."

    Real-time weather and road conditions, as well as winter safety tips, can be found on the free ReadyNC mobile app or on line at www.readync.org website.

    Travelers are urged to call 511 or go to www.ncdot.org for up-to-date roadway conditions. Motorists are reminded to call 911 for emergencies only and refrain from calling the State Highway Patrol Communication Centers for roadway conditions.