Ready Hillsborough
Emergency information and resources are available below.
Orange County Emergency Services responds to emergencies within the Town of Hillsborough. If a situation poses a threat to someone's safety, call 911.
Report water line breaks, sewer spills, and other water-related emergencies immediately by calling the Hillsborough Water Treatment Plant at 919-732-3621. Call a plumber for pipes that break inside or under your house.
Town of Hillsborough ― 919-732-1270 and Contact Us page.
Orange County ― 919-732-8181
Orange County Public Schools ― 919-732-8126
Durham Technical Community College Orange County Campus ― 919-536-7238
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ― 919-843-1234 or 919-962-2211
A document with contact information is available below for download or printing.
Downed trees and debris
- For downed trees and other debris in a roadway, ensure you are in a safe location, and then call 911.
- For downed trees on private property, contact the primary insurer of the property, and then contact a private debris removal company.
- Report non-emergency storm damage to Orange County.
Flooding
- Report flooding by calling 911.
Communications outages
- Brightspeed — Call 833-692-7773.
- Frontier — Call 800-921-8106.
- Spectrum — Call 833-267-6094.
Energy outages
- Dominion Energy — Call 877-776-2427. Dominion does not take online reports.
- Duke Energy — Call 800-POWER-ON (English) or 866-4-APAGON (Spanish), download the Duke Energy App from the Apple Store or Google Play using your smartphone, or view the Duke Energy outage maps. Register to receive text notifications for power outages in the area by texting REG to 57801. To report an outage, text OUT. For outage updates, text STATUS.
- Piedmont Electric — Call 800-449-2667 or 800-222-3107. Register to receive text notifications for power outages in the area by texting PEMC to 800-222-3107. To report an outage, text #OUT. For outage updates, text #STATUS.
The town issues emergency notifications, including alerts about water and sewer service, through OC Alerts, Orange County's mass notification system. The system is a partnership of Orange Water and Sewer Authority and the governments in Orange County. OWASA provides water service to the Carrboro and Chapel Hill community.
OC Alerts can contact individuals and businesses through a number of methods. Community members will receive a message through the voice or text communication methods of their choosing. The system is only used to deliver emergency information. Contact information is protected and will not be used for any other purpose.
See the document below for how to stay informed by the town:
Weather conditions sometimes prevent garbage collection or other residential curbside services. The town uses the following means to communicate weather-related changes to town services:
- Website — Notifications can be found on the home page.
- Email — Subscribe to news releases through the website.
- Facebook — @HillsboroughGov
- Instagram — @HillsboroughGov
- Nextdoor — Town of Hillsborough
- X — @HillsboroughGov
For changes to recycling and county-provided solid waste collections, check Orange County’s inclement weather page.
Several government agencies offer online disaster information:
- Weather conditions and forecasts — Information is available on the National Weather Service's regional website.
- Food safety after power outages — Information is available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Disaster response — Information is available from the American Red Cross in English and Spanish.
See the documents below for additional information from the town.
Several government agencies offer online cold weather information:
- Weather conditions and forecasts — Information is available on the National Weather Service's regional website.
- Extreme cold and power outages — Information related to indoor and outdoor personal safety is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- Fire safety — Tips are available from the National Fire Protection Association website.
- Preventing frozen pipes — Information is available from the American Red Cross website.
- Food safety after power outages — Information is available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Disaster response — Information on disaster response is available from the American Red Cross in English and Spanish.
See the documents below for additional information from the town.
Personal Protection During Freezing Temperatures (English and Spanish)
Tips for Frozen or Burst Pipes (English and Spanish)
Tips to Protect Pipes from Freezing (English and Spanish)
Federal and state government agencies offer online disaster information:
- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security offers information on emergency planning and preparation, including disaster plans for families, the elderly and pets. The department also provides information specific to different types of natural and man-made hazards. The website is available in English and Spanish.
- The N.C. Department of Public Safety offers additional information on these topics.
See the subsections below for additional information:
Build a kit
When an emergency happens, your family may be without power or access to grocery stores, running water or other day-to-day necessities. The best way to prepare for this possibility is to build a family emergency kit. The kit will be helpful whether you are staying at home or you have to leave on short notice. See a suggest vehicle kit in the documents at the end of this section.
Make a plan
Your family may be split up when disaster strikes or split up as a result. The best way to ensure contact is to make a plan for how you will check in and get back together.
Get involved
There are many ways to become better prepared for an emergency response.
Stay informed
Store a battery-powered radio or a radio that can be powered with a generator. News is available from several area stations:
- La Ley (101.1 FM)
- WCHL (97.9 FM)
- WDCG (105.1 FM)
- WHUP (104.7 FM)
- WPTF (680 AM)
- WRAL (101.5 FM)
- WUNC (91.5 FM)
Orange County officials work with the Orange County Chapter of the American Red Cross to open emergency shelters when the need arises. The county has two primary emergency shelters:
- Orange Middle School, 308 Orange High School Road, Hillsborough
- Smith Middle School, 9201 Seawell School Road, Chapel Hill
Shelters require residents to be as informed and prepared as possible.
- Those needing special assistance in a disaster should call 919-245-2884 to register for assistance before a disaster strikes.
- Shelter locations may change depending on the emergency.
- Listen to the radio for further directions concerning shelter openings (see the Preparedness Resources section of this page).
- Shelters will have food and water but will not have easy access to medications or other personal needs.
- Emergency transportation can be provided by calling 919-245-6100.
- Bring the following to a shelter:
- Photo identification
- Regularly taken medications
- Insurance information
- Bedding
- Towels
- Comfortable clothing
- Personal radios with headphones
- Games, reading material or other things to pass the time — especially for children
- Specialty items for your personal needs
- Do not bring weapons, illegal drugs, candles or valuables.
- Smoking is not allowed inside the shelter.
Forming a plan for your pets is the best way to make sure they remain safe during severe weather. See the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' website for information on disaster planning with pets.
Orange County has the following regulations for animals at shelters:
- Service animals for the hearing and visually impaired will be allowed in shelters.
- Orange County Animal Services staff will be on hand to board pets in the best manner possible.
- Owners of large animals and livestock should make preparations for their animals. Very limited support for these animals will be provided in a disaster.
