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Published: 2016-01-22 20:17:00
Updated: 2016-01-23 18:20:40
Posted January 22, 2016 8:17 p.m. EST
Updated January 23, 2016 6:20 p.m. EST
To report an outage, call Duke Energy at 800-419-6356 or text "OUT" to 57801.
Freezing precipitation slammed the Triangle and surrounding areas on Friday, causing treacherous roads and downed power lines across central North Carolina.
As of 6 p.m. Saturday, Duke Power was reporting on its website that 80,950 customers statewide were without power, including 34,203 in Wake County and 18,095 in Johnston County.
Fayetteville’s Public Works Commission reported 24 power outages as of 8 a.m. Saturday. PWC said three isolated outages have been reported since 6 a.m. Crews have responded to the remaining 21 and determined repairs are necessary before service can be restored.
Interstate 40 in Johnston County had issues for the majority of the day Friday, including downed power lines that shut down both sides of the road at mile marker 324 around 5:30 p.m.
Nearly two hours after the ice-coated lines fell to the road, authorities said a "suspected" drunk driver hit a Johnston County deputy, Matthew Johnson, who was assisting the repair of the electrical lines.
Officials said Johnson entered his vehicle just before the driver hit the passenger side. Johnson's K9 officer, Pinto, was also in the vehicle at the time of the accident.
Johnson was transported to a local hospital in Smithfield with non-life threatening injuries, and Pinto was unharmed in the wreck, officials said.
Shelters are open across the Triangle for those who lose power to the winter storm.
Wake County:
Sanderson High School, 5500 Dixon Drive in Raleigh
Durham County:
Hillside High School, 3727 Fayetteville St.
Johnston County:
Clayton High School, 600 S Fayetteville St.
Moore County:
Southern Middle School, 515 Johnson St. in Aberdeen
North Moore High School, 1504 North Moore Road in Robbins
Chatham County:
Virginia Cross Elementary School, 234 Cross School Road in Siler City
Northwood High School, 310 Northwood High School Road in Pittsboro
With sub-freezing temperatures lingering, and the continuation of freezing rain or sleet, moisture will continue to coat trees and power lines overnight and into the early hours on Saturday.
When heavy ice forms, take these precautions:
Before
During
Space heaters
Frozen Pipes
Damage from Ice/Fallen Tree
Roadside and Vehicle Safety