State of Emergency in Watauga County for Severe Winter Weather

Effective at 4:00 pm today and until further notice, the Chairman of the Watauga County Commissioners has declared a State of Emergency exists in Watauga County. The declaration is due to the major winter weather system currently approaching the County with high confidence that this storm will have significant impacts to transportation and utility infrastructure.

The Board of Commissioners would like to stress that while there is no curfew or other restrictions currently implemented with this State of Emergency, travel is highly discouraged after 4pm today. Conditions are expected to deteriorate throughout the late afternoon, overnight, and through tomorrow. Once the storm passes, temperatures are expected to remain well below freezing for some time. 

The public is encouraged to complete any final preparations for the storm this afternoon prior to 4:00 pm, and be prepared to be self-sufficient at home for an extended power outage. Travelling during or immediately after the storm may be treacherous and our utility crews and public safety partners need room to restore damage and respond to emergencies.

Please follow local media sources for the most up to date information on this storm including tips to prepare, any potential shelter operations, updated weather forecasts, and other important updates.