The City of Sanford is braced for the impact of brutal winter weather anticipated for our region.
“The forecast is still taking shape, but all signs point to a significant winter storm that will bring sleet, freezing rain, and ice accumulation,” says Public Works Director Fedd Walker. “This type of storm, with temperatures hovering near freezing for the next few days, could cause prolonged power outages in addition to very hazardous travel conditions. We encourage residents to prepare for the possibility of multi-day travel disruptions.”
The City of Sanford is actively monitoring the storm's track and timing. Public Works crews are on standby and ready to assist as needed.
Walker noted that all transportation and grounds staff are on heightened alert for potential after-hours work. If necessary, crews will work in shifts to respond to conditions as they develop.
To minimize the impact of the expected winter weather, Public Works is fully equipped with the necessary tools and resources, including radios, phones, fuel, chainsaws, trucks, backhoes, plows, and salt/sand spreaders.
Starting Friday, crews will pretreat high-risk areas such as City-maintained overpasses, bridges, and shaded streets with a mixture of salt and sand. Plows will be deployed on City-maintained streets only in the event of snow accumulation exceeding one inch. The City cannot plow ice.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation has deployed trucks to brine major highways, major roads, and trouble spots in our area in preparation for the storm.
Duke Energy and Central Electric are also monitoring the forecast and the potential for power outages. Customers can report outages through the following methods:
- Duke Energy: Report outages online at duke-energy.com/outages or text “OUT” to 57801. For storm preparedness tips, visit www.duke-energy.com.
- Central Electric: Report outages by calling 877-766-6769. To report outages by text, customers should first text “PWR” to 919-774-4900 to enroll, and then text “OUT” to report. Visit www.cemcpower.com/outages for more details.
To protect its greens, the Sanford Municipal Golf Course will cover them on Friday morning. The greens will remain covered for at least one week. The driving range will open as temperatures allow. Customers should call the course at 919-777-1901 to check its status.
GFL Environmental expects a delayed start for Monday’s trash and recycling routes, based on current forecasts. Should road conditions remain unsafe, collection will be delayed by at least one day.
Buzzline Microtransit will operate until noon on Saturday. Service will resume based on road conditions. Riders can check www.buzzlinemicro.com for status updates, or call COLTS at 919-776-7201.
The Sanford Police Department and Sanford Fire Department will operate as usual. In case of life-threatening emergencies, dial 9-1-1. For other urgent concerns, the numbers to call are:
- 919-775-8268 to report downed trees, flooding in public roadways, and other hazards.
- 919-775-8215 for water or wastewater concerns.
For emergency information from the City of Sanford, sign up here or text “EmergencyInfo” to 38276. Emergency preparation information is shared on our website here.
To receive alerts from TriRiver Water, subscribe here.
The City will provide any necessary updates about our storm response through this website, our social media channels, and Spectrum Channel 191. Visit our Media Center for a full list of distribution outlets.