Duke Energy, UNC and Local Governments Respond to Winter Storm Izzy

Editor’s Note: This story is being updated to reflect the weather experienced around Orange County and other communities in central North Carolina. It is last updated Sunday morning.

With a Winter Storm Warning in effect for most of North Carolina on Sunday, many in the Orange County area are preparing for adverse weather and potentially power outages.

The latest forecasts call for a variety of weather hazards in the central part of the state. Snow, ice, high winds and flash flooding are all part of the forecasts from the National Weather Service.

By early Sunday morning, parts of Orange County experienced a light snowfall. As the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and Public Works crews reported, the snow and below-freezing temperatures made driving in the region tenuous.

Due to the expectation of high winds in the winter storm, Duke Energy said it is preparing for around 750,000 customers to lose power in the Carolinas. In preparation for a response that could last several days, the energy company said it is staging more than 10,000 workers across the two states — with about 4,100 of those workers being moved from other states to assist.

Details on Duke Energy’s power restoration process, as well as tips to prepare for a power outage, can be found on the energy company’s website. To report a power outage, customers can text “OUT” to 57801, call 1-800-769-3766, or file a report online.

Locally, UNC announced it is moving the university to Condition 2 at 6 a.m. on Sunday, meaning that non-mandatory operations are suspended and only mandatory workers are reporting to campus. The message sent to the campus community confirmed the impending Winter Storm Izzy as its reasoning.

The university is expected to remain in Condition 2 until 8 a.m. on Monday, although it could be extended. UNC students do not have classes on Monday due to the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.

Additionally, the local governments in Orange County worked to prepare the roads for icy or snowy conditions at the end of the week, beginning the brining process on Thursday and Friday. The Orange County government also declared a state of emergency, urging residents to prepare for the storm and to stay off the roads.

While certain government services were expected to be closed this weekend or Monday due to the holiday, Chapel Hill Transit Services announced it is suspending operations on Sunday due to the early snow and forecast of freezing rain. The transit system will provide updates for service on Monday at 6 p.m. on Sunday.

The latest updates on Chapel Hill Transit and transportation in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area can be found here.

Two local dialysis clinics are opening on delays on Monday. Carolina Dialysis-Carrboro and Carolina Dialysis-Pittsboro will open at 8 a.m.

Photo via the Chapel Hill Police Department.

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