September is Preparedness Month locally and nationally.

The county’s elected board has proclaimed September 2025 as Orange County Preparedness Month. Disasters can strike at any time. So far this year, Orange County has experienced four tornado warnings, 22 severe thunderstorm warnings, and 14 flash flood or flood warnings. Recently, Tropical Storm Chantal caused devastating flooding and destruction.

Preparedness saves lives, strengthens community resilience, and ensures the community can recover faster when disaster strikes. To ensure you are prepared:

Sign up for emergency notifications or update your contact information and selections for alerts, making sure you have selected “Hillsborough water and sewer.” See instructions below.

Visit our Ready Hillsborough page for resources on creating an emergency supply kit and making a disaster plan.

Emergency Notifications

Ensure you receive emergency notifications from the Town of Hillsborough.

1. Go to ocalertsnc.com to register or confirm your registration.
2. Go to My Subscriptions.
3. Go to Community Alerts.
4. Select “Hillsborough water and sewer.”

The OC Alerts notification system is a partnership of Orange County and the towns in it. It is on the Everbridge platform and is separate from the Hillsborough utility billing system. Note that Orange Water and Sewer Authority provides service to the Carrboro-Chapel Hill area.

Other Personal Preparations

Outside assistance typically is not available immediately after a large disaster. Households must be able to provide for themselves for at least three days. This includes food and clean drinking water.

Drinking Water — For instructions on preparing and storing an emergency drinking water supply for your household, see the How to Create an Emergency Water Supply page from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Store at least 1 gallon of water per person for each day and a supply of water for any pets. A minimum of three days is recommended.

Disaster Kit — For a complete list of suggestions for a disaster supplies kit, see the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Build a Kit page.

Community Plans — Communities should organize to have volunteers on each street to check on neighbors and share information. Volunteers should join:

• Community Contacts — Participants in this town program share key information from town communications staff and let staff know about questions community members have. Contact the Communications Division to participate.
• Community Emergency Response Team — Orange County provides training to help yourself and others during an emergency.

Get Information

In addition to the Ready Hillsborough webpage, these resources can help you before, during and after weather events.

Storm Resources — Town preparations and operations, list of local roads that typically flood, and reminders and resources for personal preparations.

About Water Alerts — Information about the town’s various water and sewer alerts and what to do.

Town News — Subscription to receive town news releases by email, including service changes and more details from Hillsborough before, during and after a storm. One news digest is sent weekly during times of nonemergency.

Social Media — Town of Hillsborough social media and Orange County social media for updates before, during and after a storm.