Ready for the Winter Wow, Cary Outlines Services Changes Ahead of Winter Storm Fern

• Due to the severity of the storm, Cary's A-Team is joining forces with the Town's emergency management to formally open an Emergency Operations Center and better coordinate cross-departmental response through the storm's duration.
• Cary's Citizen's Convenience Center will close at noon, followed by GoCary services stopping at 3 p.m., and all staffed Cary facilities closing at 4 p.m.
• Follow Cary on social media @caryncgov for preparedness tips and the latest updates on Town operations, or visit carync.gov.

Cary, NC - Are you ready Cary? Ahead of a winter storm warning set to go into effect this evening, Cary is ready to be wowed by snow, ice and everything in between. Due to the severity of the storm, Cary's Snow Command is joining forces with the town's disaster management to formally operate an Emergency Operations Center effective 8 p.m. Saturday until further notice. All streets are brined, and response crews are set with generators, chainsaws, and tire chains, plows, and spreaders. To fight this winter storm, Cary has 3,000 tons of salt and 400 tons of salt/sand mix, and well over 400 staff, including the A-Team, ready to respond across all operational departments.

Based on the current forecast, the following Cary services are impacted:

• The Citizen's Convenience Center will close at noon today and remain closed on Sunday, January 25.
• GoCary will suspend service at 3 p.m. Saturday and will not operate the Downtown Loop route. All GoCary service is suspended through Sunday, January 25. Continued updates will be posted to the GoCary app and GoCary.org.
• All staffed facilities, including community centers and cultural arts facilities, Downtown Cary Park's Bark Bar and Market 317, will be closed and programming is canceled as of 4 p.m. Saturday and remain closed/canceled through Sunday, January 25.
• Cary 311 will open to serve citizens on Saturday from 3-9 p.m. by phone, email, text, web portal, and via DMs on @caryncgov social media.

"While icy weather may look magical on trees and rooftops, it can quickly turn dangerous," said Cary Fire Chief and EOC Manager Michael Cooper. "With our A-Team taking the lead, crews across departments are prepped and ready for whatever falls starting this evening in order to respond as effectively as possible. These are the final hours for citizens to do the same."

Weathering This Storm:

• Power outages are likely. Charge portable power chargers now and refresh flashlights. Identify alternative heat sources as indoor temperatures can drop quickly without electricity. Report power outages to Duke Energy Progress anytime at 1-800-343-3525, or Apex Electric at (919) 372-7475.
• Stock up now on shelf-stable food essentials, toiletries, and pet supplies to last you and your household up to five days.
• Be proactive and locate your water shutoff valve to help protect your home in the event of frozen/broken pipes. Open cabinets beneath the kitchen and bathroom sinks to allow warmer air to circulate around pipes, and drip your faucets slowly if you feel your pipes may still freeze.
• Stay informed by signing up for ReadyWake Alerts.
• Remember only to use 911 for immediate threats to person/property. For everything else, including slick spots or downed trees, contact Cary 311.
• View live traffic cam and live traffic map to view the real-time status of Cary streets.
• Stay indoors during severe weather. Do not park on the streets so that Town equipment can service the area.

If snowfall reaches one inch, the A-Team will plow and treat roads in priority order - starting with major thoroughfares, followed by primary streets within subdivisions, then through-streets in subdivisions, and then cul-de-sacs based on the curbside collection schedule. The Town does not treat private parking lots, including those in apartment and condominium complexes, businesses, or commercial centers.

For more ways to prepare, visit carync.gov/cold and for the most real-time updates, follow Cary on our social media channels. Cary's next weather release will be at 9 p.m. Saturday unless changing conditions warrant sooner action.

Primary Contacts

If you have specific questions, visit carync.gov/311, dial 311 anywhere in Cary, (919) 469-4000 outside Town limits, or email [email protected].

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