Burke officials declare emergencies as Fern shifts from snow to 'crippling' ice

Throughout the week weather watchers observed what is now officially Winter Storm Fern horrifically evolve from a beautiful Winter Wonderland hefty snowfall to a treacherous paralyzing ice storm guaranteed to bring things to a dangerous standstill.

While it has been anyone’s guess all week what Fern will drop on Burke County, as of Friday morning, The Paper’s press deadline, it looked uglier than ever, according to most weather forecasts. Little if any snow, lots of sleet, and heavy freezing rain.

Sleet is precipitation that started as snow, hit a warm air patch on the way down, melted, and froze again before hitting the ground. It bounces and can be swept aside.

Frozen rain is super-cooled precipitation that never froze on the descent, despite the temperature. The water droplets freeze on contact with roads, trees and powerlines and form a dangerous coating of solid ice. That is the worry.

Anytime the forecast reads, “Sleet and freezing rain changing to all freezing rain (with) crippling ice accumulations” (Ray’s Weather), residents potentially become more victim than participant.

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein declared a state of emergency on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Burke County Commissioner Chairman Jeff Brittain declared a state of emergency that went into effect today at 8 a.m.

“I have determined that there is an imminent threat of, or existing conditions have caused or will cause, widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property, and public safety authorities will be unable to maintain public order or afford adequate protection for lives or property,” Brittain said in his declaration.

Burke County Public Information Officer Chris White said, “We expect the activation of the National Guard. That will come down from the state level when that announcement comes.”

Having learned a deep lesson from Hurricane Helene on the value of preparing for the worst, residents started on Wednesday clamoring to stores for basic winter storm needs: food, water, batteries, ice salt, propane, generators.

On Thursday, Duke Energy, Spectrum, and other utility companies started issuing stern advice to expect outages this weekend.

The biting, weeklong cold snap that accompanies Fern, with its persistent way-below freezing temperatures, will ensure that whatever the storm delivers will be around for days. Closures could linger into the week.

The worst of the Fern’s wrath is not expected to hit Burke until tomorrow. So, based on those forecasts, there is still time to prepare.

BURKE COUNTY

In addition to declaring a state of emergency, The Burke County Joint Information Center on Thursday advised residents to have enough nonperishable food, water, medication, and necessary medical equipment for at least 72 hours, as roads may be undrivable due to ice.

Those who rely on oxygen need to have back-up oxygen on hand. Should an individual reliant on oxygen need to go to a shelter or hospital, they must bring their own oxygen equipment.

The county and municipal governments are prepared to open shelters and warming stations if needed. Shelter locations will be announced should the need arise.

Burke County Sheriff’s Department said it closed Old NC 105. The road will remain closed until conditions improve.

BURKE COUNTY SCHOOLS

Western Piedmont Community College will be closed Monday.

Schools in Burke County typically do not decide on a delay or cancellation until the day of, in this case Monday.

Once a decision is made, the schools begin notifying families through websites, social media, the Finalsite all-call system, ClassDojo, and local and regional media. If there is no announcement, schools is expected to run on a normal schedule.

CITY OF MORGANTON

In Morganton, crews prepared for an around-the-clock operation to clear streets of winter accumulation. Thursday morning crews started treating the nearly 90 miles of city-maintained streets with brine, salt, and sand.

“We have to make sure all emergency medical vehicles, police, and fire engines are able to use the primary roads. The 89.05 miles of roads we have to maintain are equally important, but we have to prioritize it somehow with the amount of resources we have,” Public Works Director Michael Chapman said.

Residential garbage collection will be on a one-day delay for the week of Jan. 26. The city will post further updates on its website and social media.

For any questions, call public works at 828-438-5248.

The city’s Electric Services Department is preparing for power outages. The city is asking power customers to report outages by calling 828-438-5277, not through social media.

City staff also remind residents that cable and internet service may go out when the power does and should return once electricity is restored. Do not touch or move downed power lines. Report them to the city’s electric department so crews can respond as quickly as possible.

For people that do not have city power, contact your specific electric supplier at the numbers below:

• Duke Power: 1-800-PowerOn
• Rutherford Electric: 1-800-228-9756

The city will announce updates through the city’s website, social media, WMNC Radio, and CoMPAS Cable TV.

To prevent pipes from breaking within your home, the Water Resources Department encourages property owners to leave a faucet dripping. If residents see a water main break, report it to the Water Resources Department at 828-438-5276.

VALDESE

Town Manager Todd Herms said Valdese Public Works will begin brining main streets Thursday and finish Friday. Herms said many roads are maintained by NCDOT, and the town is coordinating with the state on storm preparations.

Herms urged residents to prepare now for the possibility of significant winter weather.

“Snow presents challenges, but ice can be far more dangerous,” he said, noting icy conditions can limit travel and complicate emergency response. He asked residents to avoid unnecessary travel, give crews time to work, and take basic winter storm precautions.

Herms also stressed that residents should not contact department heads or town employees directly. For emergencies, call 911. For non-emergencies, call 828-879-2101 and press 9. He said using the proper channels speeds response and ensures accurate documentation.

TOWN OF DREXEL

Drexel Town Manager Bill Carroll said the small town east of Morganton is preparing for a possible winter weather event this weekend.

“We are making sure our trucks and equipment are gassed up and good to go,” Carroll said in a telephone interview. “We’re also making sure staff is prepared to come in if necessary to deal with emergencies.”

Carroll said Drexel does not pre-treat streets. Instead, the town uses a snowplow if a significant snowfall occurs.

If plowing is needed, Carroll said crews will start with steep streets and major thoroughfares.

TOWN OF GLEN ALPINE

Town Administrator Crystal Carswell said Glen Alpine is preparing its town-maintained streets, about 8.4 miles in all.

Carswell said Glen Alpine’s main roads are maintained by the NCDOT and will be cleared by the state. Those roads include Linville Street, U.S. 70, Catawba Street, London Street, and Lail Road.