The recent snow and ice from Jonas served as a reminder that it is, indeed, winter! Thankfully, we did not experience blizzard conditions, nor did the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man make an appearance as with 2014's "snowpocalypse."
Many did lose power, however, and road conditions were quite hazardous due to the ice. Today’s blog photo depicts just how icy it was in my backyard. Fortunately, the ice didn’t stick around too long as temperatures surged in the days following the storm.
Some City services were limited during the event, but our offices remained open for business. In an effort to keep our customers informed, we posted on Twitter and sent inclement weather alerts to our subscribers explaining what to do if your meter box was damaged and instructions for scheduling emergency electrical inspections.
An article was also published on the City’s homepage (www.raleighnc.gov) which included the forecast from the National Weather Service, shelter locations, cancellations and closures, updates from the Solid Waste Services Department, bus service schedules, and information about the Weather Bound child care program offered by the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department. The article also explained what to do if you approach a traffic signal that is not working due to a power outage, details of how the City prepared for the storm, and advice for dealing with storm debris.
Now is a great time to remind everyone that the Development Services Department has a webpage called “After the Storm: Frequently Asked Questions.” The information is not specific to any particular type of storm and answers the following questions:
- What does the City do to prepare for a large weather event?
- What should I do if I lose power?
- Where is it safe to use a generator?
- Is it safe to begin assessing the damage immediately after a storm?
- What should I do if there is damage to my property?
- If a major storm event occurs, will City inspectors be deployed to affected areas?
- What should I do before selecting a contractor to make repairs?
- Where can I obtain permits following a storm?
This webpage helps you determine what to do after a storm. I recommend bookmarking it for furture reference. For information about emergency preparation, visit the Office of Emergency Management’s webpage called “Preparing for a Disaster.”
To ensure that you receive all the latest news and information from the Development Services Department, please visit the department’s homepage and enter your email address under “MyRaleigh Subscriptions” in the upper right-hand corner of the page.
Thanks for reading! Have a wonderful week.
