Winston-Salem road crews, emergency responders brace for winter weather

Winston-Salem city road crews and emergency responders are bracing for the arrival of winter weather this weekend. 

A winter storm warning is in effect from Friday afternoon through Saturday morning for much of central North Carolina. Forecasters say the region could see up to 3 inches of snow and sleet accumulation.

At a press conference, Keith Huff, with Winston-Salem’s field operations department, said crews began pre-brining streets on Tuesday in anticipation of the storm. They plan to begin working in 12-hour shifts clearing roadways on Friday.

“When the snow event comes, we will still deal with the major arterial roads first," he said. "Once they are cleared, we will go back down to the collector streets, and then finally, we will go into residential roads.” 

Crews will also prioritize roads closest to medical facilities. Huff advises residents to avoid nonessential travel during the storm. 

Tabetha Childress, with the Winston-Salem Fire Department, said heating equipment safety is also a concern this weekend. 

“Please don't plug heating devices into extension cords. We would prefer you plug them directly into the outlet in the wall," she said. "Keep space heaters away from flammable items, and ensure chimney and heating systems are clear from debris.”

Childress says residents should also make sure their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are functional before the storm hits.

*Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the fact that the winter storm watch is now a winter storm warning.