Updated at 3:32 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23 — This version includes a state of emergency declaration, the webpage to check the status of town operations and services, and information on closure of parks and greenways.

The Town of Hillsborough is preparing for a winter storm and urges you to prepare too. 

Mayor Mark Bell has declared a state of emergency. See the town's Emergency Updates page for current status of town operations and services.

Forecast

Wintry precipitation is expected to start Saturday, with temperatures forecasted to fall below freezing and stay low into next week. A significant mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain is expected, which could create potentially hazardous conditions and extended power outages. Stay informed about the forecast by checking updates from the National Weather Service’s Raleigh office.

How the Town Prepares

The town’s emergency management team has been coordinating town preparations, including scheduling additional staff to work as needed throughout the weather event.

Public works crews have pretreated primary town streets with brine. Please note that salt brine does not work well below 15 degrees Fahrenheit.

In addition, town parks and greenways will be closed at dusk Friday, Jan. 23, and remain closed until conditions are safe to reopen them after the storm.

How You Can Prepare

• Prepare for prolonged disruptions in service by using the town’s Cold Weather Resources and Ready Hillsborough pages to help guide you. This includes ensuring that you have enough food, water, flashlights and other supplies and that you can safely use heating sources with proper ventilation to prevent fire or carbon monoxide hazards.
• Register or update your contact information with OC Alerts. The emergency notification system is used in partnership with Orange County. When registering or updating your information on the Everbridge platform, select “Hillsborough water and sewer” under the Community Alerts section.
• Subscribe to town news releases to receive the latest town information in an email and follow @HillsboroughGov social media.
• Know who provides services to your home. Information is available on the Ready Hillsborough and Services for Your Property pages. Contact your private providers if you experience power and communications outages.
• Keep your pipes from freezing by letting water drip slowly from interior water faucets on exterior walls and by insulating exterior faucets. A towel can be wrapped around exterior faucets to protect them. The Cold Weather Resources page includes more tips and information on what to do if your pipes are frozen or have burst.

Traveling

Hillsborough police advise the community to:

• Dress in layers and limit prolonged exposure to cold temperatures.
• Avoid unnecessary trips and allow extra time if you must travel.
• Assess conditions before heading out and use extra caution on hills and when approaching intersections. Conditions may change rapidly, especially on bridges and overpasses, in shaded areas, and during overnight and early morning hours when refreezing is most likely.
• Be aware of pedestrians and drivers.
• Carry a mobile phone in case of an emergency.

Streets and Sidewalks

Visit the town’s Street Maintenance page to see plowing guidelines and the town’s responsibilities. The page includes a map showing the town’s primary and secondary roads for ice and snow removal and the streets the town pretreats with brine.

Please do not park vehicles on streets, and do not pass vehicles plowing snow or spreading salt or brine.

Property and business owners are responsible for snow and ice removal on sidewalks in front of structures they own or occupy and for their parking lots and driveways, where snow may accumulate due to plowing.

Emergency Shelters

Orange County coordinates the opening of emergency shelters and cold weather shelters. Information on emergency shelters will be provided on its Ready Orange page.

The county maintains a registry for individuals with special needs who may require assistance in the event of a disaster. Assistance includes information about how to prepare for or respond to an emergency, information regarding facilities or shelters, and a well-being check.

When temperatures drop below 32 degrees, the county typically opens a cold weather shelter in Chapel Hill for community members living unhoused. Those needing transportation to that shelter may contact the Orange County Street Outreach Team at 919-886-3351 by 6 p.m. for assistance.