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Governor Cooper urges people to stay put as winter weather slams North Carolina

Governor Cooper spoke at a press conference about a winter storm affecting North Carolina. Screengrab courtesy of North Carolina Department of Public Safety.

At a press conference Sunday, Governor Cooper said travel is treacherous and power outages are already causing problems across the state. In some counties, 8-12 inches of snow have fallen and many others are seeing ice accumulation. 

“Fewer people on the road means fewer car crashes, plus it allows highway crews and utility workers to get faster results,” Cooper said. “If you must travel, reduce your speed, increase your following distance, and be sure to clear all the snow and ice off your vehicle before traveling.”

The latest travel conditions are available at drivenc.gov

As of 11:30 a.m., more than 41,000 homes and businesses reported power outages and Cooper says that number is likely to increase. Cooper asked residents to report any outages to utility companies. 

Cooper also urged North Carolinians to be prepared for outages and practices safety measures, including keeping generators away from open doors and windows to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, not using gas grills indoors, and not to burn charcoal. He also asked residents not to call 911 unless it is a true emergency. More tips on how to stay safe are available at readync.gov

A Winter Weather Warning remains in effect until midnight tonight. Snow is in the forecast for much of the High Country. In the Piedmont, sleet has already mixed in and more is expected, with the possibility of freezing rain. Gusty winds could make power outages likely. 

Emily joined WFDD in 2014. It's a homecoming after 11 years working in public radio for stations in colder climates. She graduated from the University of North Carolina in Greensboro in 2003, where she earned her degree in music. She moved to Bloomington, Indiana, where she saw an advertisement on the side of a bus for the local station, WFIU, and began volunteering. That turned into a full time gig, where Emily did everything from producing fund drives, co-hosting a classical music quiz show, and handling station relations. In 2007, Emily accepted a position at WYSO in Yellow Springs, Ohio, as the host of All Things Considered. It was there that Emily learned how to be a reporter. Her stories won state and national awards and were regularly featured on NPR. Emily became News Director at WYSO in 2011.Now, she's back in North Carolina and happily leading the news team at WFDD. She lives in Winston-Salem with her husband and two children.

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