Kure Beach Citizens,
The Town is wrapping up preparations for this weekend's winter storm. Based on the information from the National Weather Service and New Hanover County the Town will be declaring a State of Emergency effective noon on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for New Hanover County. Snow is expected to begin Saturday morning, with 6 to 8 inches possible and higher localized amounts due to snow banding. Strong winds will create blowing snow, reducing visibility. Temperatures will fall into the teens Saturday and Sunday nights, with wind chills near or below zero. Hazardous travel conditions are expected this weekend and may persist into next week.
Residents are encouraged to stay off the roads and take steps now to protect pipes from freezing. Let faucets drip, open cabinet doors under sinks, and insulate exposed plumbing, and including outdoor backflow preventers and well equipment.
Public Works, Fire and Police are prepared to respond to any issues that occur over the weekend however be aware that response could be delayed based on conditions.
Generators are pre-positioned to ensure that water and sewer systems are maintained operational in the event of a power outage.
From New Hanover County:
https://www.nhcgov.com/m/newsflash/home/detail/1059
FROM YESTERDAYS UPDATE:
Plan for keeping your family warm in the event of a power outage. In 1989 it was a snow event, and there was minimal impact to the electrical system. If this storm shifts moving us into the ice zone vs the snow zone electrical distribution systems could be significantly impacted. If you lose power :
- Isolate and insulate one room
- Don't try to heat your entire house during a power outage. it's inefficient and nearly impossible without your furnace. Choose one room with the fewest windows and best insulation, then close all doors leading to other parts of the house to trap heat in that single space. Smaller spaces retain warmth much more effectively than trying to maintain temperature throughout your home.
- Move everyone into this room and bring essential supplies like blankets, food, water, and medications. Close interior doors to unused rooms to prevent heat from escaping into areas you're not occupying. The goal is creating a warm microclimate where your family can stay safe until power returns.
- Using camping tents inside this isolated room to improve heat capture and protect their family will significant increase the comfort of your family by concentrating heat.
- Block all drafts and seal windows
- Cold air leaking through gaps around doors and windows will rapidly drain whatever warmth you manage to generate. Walk around your house and identify where you feel cold air coming in, the common culprits include door thresholds, window frames, and gaps where pipes or wires enter walls. Seal off any drafts around windows and doors in your chosen room using towels, blankets, or weatherstripping.
- If you have heavy curtains or drapes, close them to add an extra insulation layer over windows, which are major sources of heat loss. If you have it available, you could always tape plastic sheeting or even cardboard over the windows.
- Put rugs or blankets on floors, especially if you have hardwood or tile, since cold floors pull heat from your body. These blocking and insulating measures don't generate heat, but they dramatically slow how quickly your home loses whatever warmth remains.
- Consider your water pipe integrity
- Either maintain a slow drip from facets or consider shutting down your incoming water. For any sinks on external walls, open the doors to under the sink so that the pipes do not freeze.
- Run a generator to power space heaters
- If you own a portable generator, you can use it to run electric space heaters in your chosen room. This is one of the most effective emergency heating methods, but it requires proper setup to avoid deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Never run a generator indoors, in your garage, or near windows it must be outside and at least 20 feet from your home with the exhaust pointing away from windows and doors. Use heavy-duty outdoor extension cords rated for the generator's output to power space heaters inside.
- Ceramic space heaters work best because they heat up quickly and have safety features like tip-over protection and auto-shutoff. Only run the generator in well-ventilated outdoor areas and make sure your carbon monoxide detectors have fresh batteries before any emergency occurs.
Stay warm, dry and safe.
Respectfully,
David W. Heglar, PE
Emergency Manager, Town of Kure Beach, NC