Residents encouraged to avoid travel if possible

Since winter weather moved into our area Wednesday, snow and black ice have created hazardous road conditions, leading to dozens of traffic accidents. With freezing temperatures expected to persist overnight, Wake County has decided to adjust the operating hours of its facilities on Friday, Feb. 21, to protect the public and its employees.

All non-essential Wake County facilities will delay opening until Noon on Friday. This includes Wake County Parks, Libraries and Solid Waste facilities.

These schedule changes do not include essential personnel, such as law enforcement, EMS and other first responders who work around the clock to protect the public.

More updates can be found online at wake.gov/weather.

Staying Safe

• Avoid driving in snowy or icy conditions unless absolutely necessary.
• If you must drive, use caution and maintain a safe following distance from the car in front of you.
• Prepare an emergency kit, including water, non-perishable food items, blankets, flashlights, batteries, and essential medications in case of power outages.
• Dress in layers to stay warm during extreme weather conditions.
• When using a fireplace or space heater, keep all flammable objects at least three feet away from the heat source.
• Never use generators or charcoal-burning grills and stoves inside your home. Keep them outside to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Visit wake.gov/heatingsafety for more tips on heating your home safely.
• Subscribe to personalized ReadyWake alerts to stay informed.