A strong winter storm moved quickly through North Carolina Wednesday night into Thursday, leaving three deaths, significant snow, and scattered power outages, Governor Roy Cooper said Thursday. While the snow will end by mid-day, bitterly cold temperatures will remain through the weekend, and refreezing will make it difficult to clear roads.
Press Releases
The State Emergency Response Team has activated its Joint Information Center to provide information regarding the winter storm to the news media. The Joint Information Center will be staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and can be reached at 919-825-2599 or via email at pio@ncem.org. After hours, calls will forward to an on-call public information officer.
Governor Roy Cooper today declared a state of emergency for all eastern and several central North Carolina counties as the state braces for snow and sleet along with bitter cold.
As part of the Department of Public Safety’s continuing efforts to make prisons safer, revisions have been made to the Offender Disciplinary Procedures. These changes, which take effect Jan. 3, 2018, strengthen the policy and will hold inmates more accountable for rules violations, as well as upgrade certain charges to a higher level.
NC Department of Public Safety Secretary Erik A. Hooks today announced Kimberly D. Grande as the new executive director of the Inmate Grievance Resolution Board. Grande, a seasoned jurist who has practiced law for more than a decade, will assume the position on January 8.
“Kimberly Grande brings an impressive array of skill sets and expertise to the department of public safety,” said Secretary Hooks. “Her impeccable record on appellate matters proves she is an adept counsel, who will serve the grievance board well,” said Hooks.
It may be too late for a white Christmas, but Governor Cooper is encouraging North Carolina residents and visitors to keep an eye on the forecast due to the possibility of frozen precipitation and be careful when traveling this holiday season.
“While it doesn’t look like North Carolina will feel major impacts from this winter storm, we want everyone to keep an eye on the forecast as they travel during this busy holiday season,” said Governor Roy Cooper.
The State Highway Patrol’s aviation unit assisted with the search of a missing Surry County man on Wednesday, December 13. Local authorities had issued a Silver Alert for Robert Eugene Abeyta, 73, of Pinnacle, NC who had walked away from his residence around 10 a.m.
What: Crime Victims Compensation Quarterly Commission Meeting
When: Wednesday, Dec. 13, 10 a.m.
Where: Victim Compensation Conference Room, Ground Floor, G-24D of the Archdale Building, 512 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh
Background: The Crime Victims Compensation Commission reimburses victims of violent crime for medical bills, lost wages, out-of-pocket expenses and other losses related to their victimization. At this meeting, the commission will hear 42 claims totaling approximately $899,000.
Inmate Gerard Altman (#1131252) died Monday at Lumberton Correctional Institution after an apparent suicide. He was found unresponsive in the inmate dormitory at about 3:38 a.m. Prison medical staff and local paramedics responded and worked to resuscitate the inmate, and he was taken to a local hospital. He was pronounced dead at the hospital at 5:18 p.m.
Altman, 42, was sentenced for first degree murder in New Hanover County in 2011 and was serving a life sentence.
State emergency and transportation officials are closely monitoring weather and road conditions, and are ready to respond if needed as North Carolina receives the season’s first blast of winter weather, Governor Roy Cooper said Friday.