FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — For the past few days, Cumberland County was covered in ice. By the time the sun came up Wednesday, the area slowly started to thaw.

After sheets of ice covered the area for the past few days, some can finally see the lanes of the road.

"Yesterday afternoon was the first time since Sunday I've been out of the house," resident Jan Brock said Wednesday.

As downtown Fayetteville emerges from the freeze, some motorists are taking it slow on the roads while others take it fast. Emergency crews report a major drop in the number of accidents, which is a far cry from earlier in the week.

"A lot of people shouldn't have been out," resident Bill Hawley said. "Everybody should have stayed home."

Cumberland County schools will operate on a normal schedule Thursday.