In advance of predicted winter weather, Hillsborough crews prepare equipment and resources, including:

• Outfitting trucks with plows and tire chains.
• Ensuring vehicles and generators are fully fueled.
• Ensuring any equipment that may be needed is ready to go.
• Pretreating some roadways with brine if needed, including Rainey Avenue; Beckett’s Ridge, Lafayette, Lakeshore, Meadowlands and Waterstone drives; East Margaret Lane; College Park Road; and Cameron Street.

Below is information on how the town operates during winter weather events. Also see the town's winter weather operations video.

Snow and Ice Removal

Visit the Street Maintenance page to view plowing guidelines and the town's responsibilities for winter weather.

Curbside Collections

Hillsborough will stop curbside collections of trash, brush, bulk items and loose leaves if weather conditions prevent collection trucks from operating safely. Garbage collection will be given priority when collections resume.

Orange County provides collection of recyclables. See the Orange County website for changes in its services.

Parks and Trails

Parks and greenways are not a priority for snow removal. When weather conditions deteriorate, staff will close parks and greenways until they determine the areas are safe.

Please heed all safety signage and barricades and do not enter closed areas. Those who choose to use the town’s parks and greenways do so at their own risk. Entering closed areas also puts others at risk and pulls emergency workers away from other duties.

When weather conditions worsen, please:

• Stay off roads, sidewalks and town trails. 
• Do not park vehicles on streets because this affects plowing.
• Do not pass vehicles plowing snow or spreading salt or brine to avoid bodily injury or damage to vehicle paint.
• Remember that sidewalks and roads may continue to have snow and ice and to be hazardous after a storm, particularly in shaded areas.

Traveling on roads, sidewalks and trails during severe weather is risky, creates more emergency work, and slows efforts to keep roadways cleared for emergency response.

Resources

Emergency Information

See emergency information on the Ready Hillsborough page, including key local contacts, how to report problems and how to subscribe to emergency notifications.

Emergency Kits

Basic readiness tips include having adequate supplies of food and water to last several days and putting together a disaster supply kit, including a flashlight, batteries, cash, first aid supplies and copies of critical documents. See the Ready Hillsborough page.

Equipment and Vehicles

Prepare your equipment and vehicles by ensuring they are fully fueled. Additionally, vehicles may be equipped with tire chains to improve traction and prevent slipping on snowy or icy roads.

Stay Informed

Please stay informed and share information with neighbors. Use the Town of Hillsborough’s various communication channels:

• Website — www.hillsboroughnc.gov
• News releases — Email Subscriptions page to receive town news by email.
• Facebook — @HillsboroughGov
• Instagram — @HillsboroughGov
• Nextdoor — www.nextdoor.com/pages/town-of-hillsborough-2
• X — @HillsboroughGov

Low temperatures can bring power outages due to high electrical demand. Stay safe with these tips:

Heater Safety

• If heat is out, go to a neighbor or family member’s home if possible.
• Do not use generators, grills, camp stoves or other gasoline or charcoal-burning devices inside the home, basement or garage or near a window. These devices create carbon monoxide gas, which is poisonous.
• Check heating units and carbon monoxide detectors. Poorly operating or damaged heating units can release carbon monoxide gas.

Caring for Others

• Don't leave children, elderly people or pets alone in vehicles. Temperatures in vehicles can drop rapidly. Pets can be greatly affected by the cold and should not be exposed long.
• Remember that older adults, people in fragile health and small children are affected more by the cold than the average adult.
• Check on loved ones and neighbors, preferably by telephone.

Caring for Yourself

• Create a warm room by sealing off the warmest room in the home where everyone gathers. Close off additional rooms, cover doorways and windows, and block drafts with towels, blankets or clothes. Avoid unnecessarily opening doors and windows.
• Keep body heat in by layering loose but warm clothing, wearing a hat, using blankets, and huddling with people or pets.
• Eat and drink regularly to help stay warm. Avoid alcohol and caffeine because they cause the body to lose heat faster.
• Wear appropriate clothing that will adequately insulate from the cold when outdoors. The National Weather Service advises wearing a hat and gloves if outdoors during a wind chill advisory.
• Avoid overexertion and be aware of the amount and intensity of physical activity indoors and outdoors. Cold weather strains the body, especially the heart.

Resources

• Personal Safety in Extreme Cold and Power Outages — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Fire Safety Tips — National Fire Protection Association
• Food Safety After Power Outages — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Disaster Response — American Red Cross (English) or American Red Cross (Español).
• State Road Information — 511 Information Line.

Use these tips to protect water pipes during freezing temperatures.

Unheated Areas

Pipes in unheated areas have the greatest chance of freezing. Unheated areas include attics, basements and crawl spaces.

• Insulate pipes ― Pipe insulation is available in fiberglass or foam sleeves. Home centers and hardware stores have sleeves providing one-eighth to five-eighths inches of insulation. Specialty dealers have products that provide up to 2 inches of insulation. The extra thickness can save a pipe.

• Heat pipes ― Heating cables and tapes are effective. Select a heating cable with the UL label and a built-in thermostat that turns the heat on when needed. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions closely. If you have it, turn on an incandescent light bulb in your crawl space for extra warmth.

• Seal openings and air leaks ― This includes access doors, air vents in the foundation, and cracks. Especially keep cold wind away from pipes, which speeds the freezing process. Close and seal cracks and other openings with insulation, cardboard, plastic or newspaper. Foundation air vents may have hinged or sliding covers to easily close the vents.

• Ensure your water meter box cover is closed ― The cover prevents cold air from freezing water inside the meter. If the cover is broken or missing and you are a Hillsborough water customer, call the Town of Hillsborough at 919-732-3621.

Heated Areas

• Leave cabinet doors open under kitchen and bathroom sinks ― This allows warmer room air to circulate around pipes.

• Let water drip slowly from the highest faucet in the building ― Use this tip if you have difficulty protecting pipes in an unheated area or if you believe your pipes may freeze for other reasons. An open faucet allows water to escape before pressure builds to a point where a pipe can burst.

If dripping stops, ice may be blocking the pipe. Keep the faucet open because the pipe still needs pressure relief.

If Your Pipes Are Frozen

If nothing comes out of your faucets:

• Leave the faucets open and call a plumber.
• Try to thaw the pipe with warm air from a hair dryer ― Start by warming the pipe as close to the faucet as possible. Then work toward the coldest section of pipe.
  • Do not use electrical appliances in areas of standing water. You could be electrocuted.
  • Do not use a torch or other open flame. This could cause a fire hazard.

If Your Pipes Have Burst

• Turn off water at the main shutoff valve and leave faucets open ― Make sure everyone knows where the master valve is for your plumbing system and how to open and close it. The valve may be in your basement, crawl space or closet where water pipes enter the house or building. If you do not have a master shutoff valve, consider installing one.

• Drain the pipes in your plumbing system ― Open the highest and lowest cold-water faucets in your house until the water is depleted.
  • Before draining pipes ― Turn off the water heater to ensure the lack of water does not burn out the heating elements.
  • After draining pipes ― Before turning on the water heater again, ensure water service is restored and the water tank is refilled.

• If you fix a leak, you may qualify for an adjustment to your utility bill. See the Billing and Adjustments page.