CITY OF NEW BERN PREPARES FOR WINTER WEATHER

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for most of eastern North Carolina as winter weather moves in this weekend. Right now, the forecast shows a mix of snow and sleet moving in Friday evening, transitioning to rain on Saturday morning. Temperatures will remain below freezing overnight Friday before warming up on Saturday morning. The City of New Bern is taking steps now to prepare for the winter weather and residents should do the same.

As conditions deteriorate, the City encourages motorists to stay safe and stay off the roads if possible. If travel is required, use caution. Today, Public Works crews are loading salt spreaders and preparing vehicles and equipment to respond during the winter weather.  Friday morning, they will begin spraying city bridges and other trouble spots with a brine solution to pre-treat roadway surfaces ahead of the storm. Additional staff have been scheduled to work overnight Friday and through Saturday as necessary.

Although we do not anticipate power outages associated with this winter storm, Department of Public Utilities (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.  DPU reminds customers to consider energy conservation, especially during extreme weather conditions.

In addition to public works and utilities staff, our fire and police departments are prepping and fueling vehicles to respond to traffic and other emergencies. 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.  

Residents and visitors are encouraged to follow the City on social media, on Facebook @cityofnb and on Instagram @cityofnewbern for storm updates and announcements of city closures or program cancellations (if any).  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.