Expected to bear the brunt, eastern North Carolina prepares for incoming winter storm

With eastern North Carolina expected to see the most impact from the incoming winter storm, crews have been working around the clock to prep the area’s roads.

A spokesperson for the state Department of Transportation the crews have the tools to clear dangerous conditions for drivers, but they need the community’s help to keep the streets clear.

Nash County

In Nash County, it's been all about salt this week with DOT crews pre-treating the roads with brine since Wednesday. Overall, 30,000 gallons of brine have been sprayed to prepare for a potential barrage of ice and snow.

Brine, a mix of chemicals and water, is spread on roads before ice and snow fall to keep them passable.

“It lowers your freezing temperature to 18 degrees instead of 32. It keeps it as a slush versus being a frozen solid,” said Scotty Hopkins, Nash County maintenance engineer for DOT.

During last week’s winter weather, Hopkins said his crew was missing nearly one-third of its workers due to COVID-19.

As of Thursday, the crew was back at full strength — meaning as soon as the storm arrived they could start working 24 hours a day to treat the 3 to 5 inches of snow expected to come down along the Interstate 95 corridor.

“With us treating it, it will stay a slush,” Hopkins said. “But with it freezing solid, it’s going to be dangerous.”

Wayne County

In downtown Goldsboro many businesses in the area, like the Laughing Owl, told WRAL News they will remain open Friday, but that could change because Wayne County is bracing for some of the highest snowfall totals in this storm.

Thursday night roads were wet and slick. It had been raining in Goldsboro consistently on and off all day.

"We'll be here through the storm," said Jerry Evans, the owner of Jerry's Cane Shop. "Even when it snows, we come down and open up for the people here."

"It makes you feel good to help other people because you help in whatever way you can, and this is our ministry -- just to help other people," he added.

The worst conditions are expected Friday with Wayne County predicted to see anywhere from 2 to 4 inches of snow through Saturday.

By around 5 p.m. Friday, Goldsboro was still dry, but it isn't expected to be that way for long. Wayne County could see up to five inches.

Stay home, stay safe, allow crews to clear ice and snow

DOT officials said the most helpful thing drivers could do when the storm arrives is to stay home and give crews plenty of room to plow the streets clear.

“If you can stay off the roads, it helps us a whole lot being able to get our job done a lot safer and a lot faster,” Hopkins said.

Staying home over the weekend appeared to be the plan for many people in Tarboro.

Because of the expected weather all city offices in Goldsboro will also be closed. Trash pick up will be postponed until Wednesday, Jan 26.

People dining in Goldsboro Thursday told WRAL News they were finishing up with dinner and heading home for the rest of the weekend.

Ice melt, sleds in short supply

Tarboro Mayor Joe Pit, who also works at the town's Ace Hardware store, said demands have been through the roof for propane gas and ice melt. Due to supply chain issues, Pit said had to drive his own truck hundreds of miles this week to get supplies from other stores.

“Others are not getting hit as bad as we are,” he said. “So, therefore, we can travel 50 or 60 miles and pick up a bunch of it, and that’s what I’ve been doing.”

But along with the necessities, Pitt said his store was also sold out of something else important for snow — sleds.

Pit said that he felt that summed up how the town was feeling about the weather: Hoping this weekend would turn Tarbobo into a harmless winter wonderland.

“To be perfectly honest, you’re in the South,” Pitt said. “Everybody’s got a little bit of excitement about it, and you can’t get away from that. Even I love snow.”