North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein And Other State Officials Met Thursday To Review Preparations For A Major Winter Storm Expected To Hit The State This Weekend.
In Much Of Western North Carolina, Officials Say The Biggest Threat Will Be Ice—Creating Slick, Hazardous Travel Conditions. Higher Elevations In The Mountains Could See Heavier Snow Accumulation.
The North Carolina Department Of Transportation Says Crews Have Already Pre-Treated Roads, Bridges And Overpasses With More Than 300,000 Tons Of Brine. Stein Warned That Road Conditions Are Expected To Worsen On Saturday And Could Remain Dangerous For Several Days Afterward, As Temperatures Are Expected To Stay Below Freezing.
Stein Is Urging People To Avoid Travel When Possible So Ncdot Crews Can Work Safely To Clear And Treat Roads. “Starting Saturday, Please Do Everything You Can To Stay Off The Roads,” Stein Said, Adding That Anyone Who Is Not A First Responder Or Essential Personnel Should Avoid Driving Unless It Is Necessary.
Officials Also Say Now Is The Time To Prepare—By Gathering Emergency Supplies, Including Non-Perishable Food, Water, And Needed Medications. State Emergency Management Leaders Say They Are Distributing Supplies, Mobilizing The National Guard, And Deploying “Hot Spot” Teams—Combination Crews Made Up Of Ncdot Workers And The National Guard—To Assist With Safe Movement And Help Address Stranded Vehicles Along Major Roadways.
The Meeting Follows Stein’s State Of Emergency Declaration On Wednesday, January 21, As North Carolina Braces For Potential Winter Storm Impacts This Weekend.
North Carolina’s Price Gouging Law Is Now In Effect After Governor Josh Stein Declared A State Of Emergency Ahead Of This Weekend’s Winter Storm.
State Law Prohibits Businesses And Individuals From Charging Prices That Are Unreasonably Excessive For Goods Or Services Sold Or Rented While The Emergency Declaration Remains In Place. The Attorney General’s Office Says Some Price Increases May Be Allowed If A Business Is Facing Higher Costs Or Storm-Related Impacts — But Price Hikes Meant To Boost Profits Are Not Allowed, And Any Reasonable Increases Should Be Clearly Disclosed To Customers Before Purchase.
The Department Of Justice Is Also Pointing To A Recent Example From Western North Carolina: After Hurricane Helene, The State Won A Court Judgment Against Contractors Lorenzo Huggins Senior And Lorenzo Huggins Junior In A Post-Storm Tree-Removal Case. The Judgment Barred Them From Advertising Or Entering Contracting Or Landscaping Agreements, Canceled Certain Contracts, And Ordered Reimbursement For Customers Who Had Already Paid.
If You Suspect Price Gouging, You Can Report It To The North Carolina Department Of Justice At 1-877-5-No-Scam Or Ncdoj.Gov/Pricegouging.
