WS Chronicle

City crews are preparing road surfaces for the potential of several inches of snow to arrive Friday evening into early Saturday morning, and they will be on 24-hour standby during the storm to clear streets and bridges.

As of this morning, the National Weather Service in Raleigh was forecasting up to 3 inches of snow possibly mixed with sleet and freezing rain. However, the actual amount of precipitation could vary, depending upon the track of the storm.

As city crews work to clear the streets during the storm, city residents should be mindful of the method in which streets get cleared. Major roadways will be cleared first, followed by collector streets and then neighborhoods. Residents are encouraged not to attempt to drive unless absolutely necessary. Unnecessary traffic can impede both street-clearing equipment and emergency vehicles’ ability to respond to calls quickly.

Emergency Management officials recommend the following to prepare your household for the storm:

• For Your Home
  • Several days’ worth of food that needs no cooking or refrigeration, such as bread, crackers, cereal, canned foods, and dried fruits; remember baby food and formula if you have young children
  • Other baby items as needed, such as extra diapers
  • Several days’ worth of water stored in clean containers, or purchased bottled water (5 gallons per person)
  • Several days’ worth of medicines that any family member may need
  • Blankets
  • Flashlights and/or battery-powered lanterns
  • Battery-powered radio and clock
  • Extra batteries
  • Non-electric can opener
  • Snow shovel
  • Rock salt, to help melt ice
• For Your Vehicle – Do not drive unless absolutely necessary.
  • Blankets
  • Battery-powered NOAA weather radio for the latest storm updates
  • Basic first aid kit
  • Windshield scrapers and brush
  • Jumper cables
  • Mobile phone
  • Bag of sand or cat litter (to pour on ice or snow for added traction)
  • Tow rope
  • Small or collapsible shovel
  • Container of water and non-perishable, high-energy foods such as granola bars
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • Tire repair kit and pump

Residents may contact the city for storm-related issues after 7 p.m. Friday by contacting City Link (336) 727-8000 and an answering service provider will be available to relay information to on-call staff.

For non-English speaking residents needing storm related assistance, they may contact the city’s language access coordinators directly:

Robert Thompson – (336) 817-1330

Javier Correa-Vega – (336) 817-0894