Emergency Services urges residents to take precaution and prepare for winter weather as an unusually strong Arctic cold front will bring wind chill values between 0 and 10 degrees Fahrenheit across central North Carolina Friday and Saturday.
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Cumberland County Emergency Services urges residents to take precaution and prepare for winter weather as an unusually strong Arctic cold front will bring wind chill values between 0 and 10 degrees Fahrenheit across central North Carolina Friday and Saturday.
The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory for Cumberland and surrounding counties on Friday from 4 a.m. to 6 p.m. with wind gusts up to 45 to 50 mph. A Wind Chill Advisory has been issued from 7 p.m. Friday until 9 a.m. Saturday with wind gusts between 30 and 40 mph possible.
This strong Arctic front and associated winds will create dangerous winter weather conditions with sharply colder temperatures. Now is the time to prepare to protect yourself and your family.
“North Carolina winters can be unforgiving, so I urge all residents to prepare now,” said Cumberland County Emergency Management Coordinator Garry Crumpler. “If you have friends or loved ones who are in our vulnerable population, please check on them while maintaining your own safety.”
The National Weather Service and N.C. Emergency Management offer the following winter weather tips:
- Minimize travel
- Stay indoors during the worst part of the extreme cold
- Keep a winter survival kit in your vehicle if you must travel
- Check tire pressure, antifreeze levels and the heater/defroster of your vehicle
- Learn how to shut off water valves for potential pipe bursts
- Check on the elderly or vulnerable people
- Bring pets indoors
- Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing and a hat
- Mittens, snug at the wrist, are better than gloves
- Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold
- Try to stay dry and out of the wind
- Never operate a charcoal grill or camp stove indoors, or inside a tent, for either cooking or heating as the fumes can be toxic
Several non-profit and faith-based organizations in Cumberland County will operate shelters under white flag conditions if temperatures or wind chill is at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Those organizations include the following:
Salvation Army of the Sandhills Region
245 Alexander Street, Fayetteville
Shelter Hours: 6:30 p.m. – 7 a.m.
Intake Hours: 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Families, women and single men
Manna Dream Center
913 Person St., Fayetteville
Shelter Hours: 6 p.m. – 6 a.m.
Intake Hours: 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Men only
TrueVine Ministries
5315 Morganton Rd., Fayetteville
Shelter Hours: 6 p.m. – 7:30 a.m.
Intake Hours: 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Families, women and single men
For more information, go to cumberlandcountync.gov/emergencyservices or call 910-321-6736. Follow Cumberland County social media at cumberlandcountync.gov or County social media pages at facebook.com/CumberlandNC, facebook.com/CumberlandCountyNC911 and twitter.com/CumberlandNC.