New Bern Alerts
City of New Bern Prepares for Winter Storm Enzo
- The Public Open House at the Stanley A. White Recreation Center will close at 5pm.
- West New Bern Recreation Center will close at 6pm. All evening programs and activities have been cancelled.
CITY OF NEW BERN PREPARES FOR WINTER STORM ENZO
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for most of eastern North Carolina, including the possibility of several inches of snow across New Bern and the surrounding area. The forecast for Winter Storm Enzo shows accumulating snow that will begin Tuesday afternoon, tapering off early Wednesday morning. Blowing, drifting snow and blizzard conditions are expected. Temperatures will struggle to get above freezing through Thursday and overnight lows will be in the teens, which means the snow will stick around for a couple of days. Any snow that does melt during the daytime will refreeze into black ice at night.
This combination of wintry weather and prolonged cold temperatures will have significant impacts on travel. As conditions deteriorate, the City encourages motorists to stay off the roads and delay any travel plans as long as possible. If travel is absolutely necessary, use extreme caution and slow down. Standard speed limits may not apply in severe weather conditions. If your vehicle is covered in snow, please clean it off and ensure windows, mirrors, and vehicle lights are visible and operational for your safety and the safety of others. Stay alert for black ice and equip your vehicle with an emergency kit to include blankets, a flashlight, and extra food and water.
On Monday morning and again today, Public Works crews began pre-treating major roadways and collector streets, applying a brine solution. They also applied salt and sand to city bridges. This operation will continue through the night. Crews have assembled equipment and prepped vehicles necessary for snow removal. If you find yourself in traffic behind a salt, sand, or brining operation, please stay back for safety and to allow crews to appropriately pre-treat roadways.
Parking lots, entrances and exits at all first responder facilities have been salted for rapid deployment in the event of emergencies. Our fire, police and public utilities staff are also fueling vehicles and stocking up on supplies and equipment in advance of Winter Storm Enzo. Additional staff have been scheduled to work through the duration of the storm.
Demands for energy on the New Bern electrical system as well as the regional bulk electric system are expected to increase. The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) recommends that customers consider energy conservation. DPU staff are staged and ready to respond to any utility issues that may arise. If you lose power, report it by calling (252)636-4070. The City’s online “Report a Problem” feature is another way to contact us in the event of power outages, water/sewer problems and other non-emergency issues. This online portal is located at www.newbernnc.gov/reportaproblem.
Prolonged cold temperatures can lead to frozen pipes. Take steps now to disconnect outdoor hoses, insulate outdoor spigots, and open interior cabinet doors to circulate warm air around your plumbing. Consider allowing water to drip from an interior faucet to prevent freezing pipes. If your pipes freeze, turn off the main water valve to prevent further damage.
New Bern Fire-Rescue strongly urges residents to check their space heaters - make sure you’re using them safely. Place heaters on low, flat surfaces at least 3 feet away from flammable items. Do not leave a space heater running unattended, especially for long periods of time. Don’t leave a space heater running overnight and unplug it after each use. For your safety and that of your family, friends, and pets, keep space heaters out of high traffic areas or doorways and don’t plug them into extension cords or power strips.
Delays or closures of city facilities and cancellations of programs and services (if any) will be posted on our website at www.NewBernNC.gov, sent out through New Bern Alerts, and posted on social media. Follow us on Facebook @cityofnb and on Instagram @cityofnewbern. We will also use our emergency notification system, New Bern Alerts, to share information with subscribers through texts, emails, and/or phone calls. Sign up for New Bern Alerts by visiting our website at www.newbernnc.gov/newbernalerts. For those who do not speak English, the City’s website can be translated into more than 100 different languages. Visit www.NewBernNC.gov and scroll all the way to the bottom to select the language you prefer.
The following operational changes and cancellations take effect today:
We have also heard from GFL that trash and recycling services have been suspended for tomorrow (Wednesday). They will resume collections on Thursday with a delayed start and plan to catch up by Saturday.
Although the City does not anticipate activating our Emergency Operations Center, the facility is prepared and stands ready for mobilization, if necessary. In the meantime, staff are monitoring the latest forecasts for Winter Storm Enzo and will determine the appropriate response.
If you haven’t already, take time now to prepare for this winter storm. Bring the pets inside and check on friends and neighbors, especially the elderly. Dangerously cold temperatures can have significant impacts on your health. Stay tuned to reliable sources for the latest on the forecast and stay safe and off the roads if possible.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for most of eastern North Carolina, including the possibility of several inches of snow across New Bern and the surrounding area. The forecast for Winter Storm Enzo shows accumulating snow that will begin Tuesday afternoon, tapering off early Wednesday morning. Blowing, drifting snow and blizzard conditions are expected. Temperatures will struggle to get above freezing through Thursday and overnight lows will be in the teens, which means the snow will stick around for a couple of days. Any snow that does melt during the daytime will refreeze into black ice at night.
This combination of wintry weather and prolonged cold temperatures will have significant impacts on travel. As conditions deteriorate, the City encourages motorists to stay off the roads and delay any travel plans as long as possible. If travel is absolutely necessary, use extreme caution and slow down. Standard speed limits may not apply in severe weather conditions. If your vehicle is covered in snow, please clean it off and ensure windows, mirrors, and vehicle lights are visible and operational for your safety and the safety of others. Stay alert for black ice and equip your vehicle with an emergency kit to include blankets, a flashlight, and extra food and water.
On Monday morning and again today, Public Works crews began pre-treating major roadways and collector streets, applying a brine solution. They also applied salt and sand to city bridges. This operation will continue through the night. Crews have assembled equipment and prepped vehicles necessary for snow removal. If you find yourself in traffic behind a salt, sand, or brining operation, please stay back for safety and to allow crews to appropriately pre-treat roadways.
Parking lots, entrances and exits at all first responder facilities have been salted for rapid deployment in the event of emergencies. Our fire, police and public utilities staff are also fueling vehicles and stocking up on supplies and equipment in advance of Winter Storm Enzo. Additional staff have been scheduled to work through the duration of the storm.
Demands for energy on the New Bern electrical system as well as the regional bulk electric system are expected to increase. The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) recommends that customers consider energy conservation. DPU staff are staged and ready to respond to any utility issues that may arise. If you lose power, report it by calling (252)636-4070. The City’s online “Report a Problem” feature is another way to contact us in the event of power outages, water/sewer problems and other non-emergency issues. This online portal is located at www.newbernnc.gov/reportaproblem.
Prolonged cold temperatures can lead to frozen pipes. Take steps now to disconnect outdoor hoses, insulate outdoor spigots, and open interior cabinet doors to circulate warm air around your plumbing. Consider allowing water to drip from an interior faucet to prevent freezing pipes. If your pipes freeze, turn off the main water valve to prevent further damage.
New Bern Fire-Rescue strongly urges residents to check their space heaters - make sure you’re using them safely. Place heaters on low, flat surfaces at least 3 feet away from flammable items. Do not leave a space heater running unattended, especially for long periods of time. Don’t leave a space heater running overnight and unplug it after each use. For your safety and that of your family, friends, and pets, keep space heaters out of high traffic areas or doorways and don’t plug them into extension cords or power strips.
Delays or closures of city facilities and cancellations of programs and services (if any) will be posted on our website at www.NewBernNC.gov, sent out through New Bern Alerts, and posted on social media. Follow us on Facebook @cityofnb and on Instagram @cityofnewbern. We will also use our emergency notification system, New Bern Alerts, to share information with subscribers through texts, emails, and/or phone calls. Sign up for New Bern Alerts by visiting our website at www.newbernnc.gov/newbernalerts. For those who do not speak English, the City’s website can be translated into more than 100 different languages. Visit www.NewBernNC.gov and scroll all the way to the bottom to select the language you prefer.
The following operational changes and cancellations take effect today:
We have also heard from GFL that trash and recycling services have been suspended for tomorrow (Wednesday). They will resume collections on Thursday with a delayed start and plan to catch up by Saturday.
Although the City does not anticipate activating our Emergency Operations Center, the facility is prepared and stands ready for mobilization, if necessary. In the meantime, staff are monitoring the latest forecasts for Winter Storm Enzo and will determine the appropriate response.
If you haven’t already, take time now to prepare for this winter storm. Bring the pets inside and check on friends and neighbors, especially the elderly. Dangerously cold temperatures can have significant impacts on your health. Stay tuned to reliable sources for the latest on the forecast and stay safe and off the roads if possible.