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Wilson This Week -- Feb. 17, 2025 |
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Wilson in path of icy weather Wednesday
Once again, Wilson is expecting winter weather, but the storm arriving Wednesday has a higher chance of power outages.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Wilson County and the surrounding areas starting Wednesday morning through Thursday morning. As of Monday afternoon, the NWS is projecting up to an inch of snow and 1/4 inch of ice in Wilson, but those numbers could shift.
Here's why we are worried about it -- 1/4 inch of ice can add hundreds of pounds to an electric line, as well as pull down tree limbs. So there is a greater chance of electric outages this week compared to what we have previously seen this winter.
Here's why you shouldn't worry too much -- Wilson Energy works year-round to keep our lines in great shape and to remove vegetation that could fall on the lines. And they have terrific linemen who will fix outages quickly. Plus our street crews are fully gassed up and geared up to deal with whatever we end up getting.
So here's a quick list of ways you can prepare for this storm:
- Keep all phones and other devices charged and have flashlights with fresh batteries available. If possible, have a power bank for your primary phone.
- Restock medications and food to have enough to get through a couple of days at home if needed.
- Enroll in outage text alerts on the city's website (link below). That text will reassure you that we know about your outage and it will also tell you when the outage is resolved.
- You can go to that same page to track any outages on our system and get estimates on when they will be fixed.
- Report downed lines: If you see a downed power line, stay far away and report it immediately. ALWAYS assume that downed power lines are energized and dangerous.
- Stay indoors when conditions are icy. Avoid going outside unless absolutely necessary. Do not stand under, or near, power lines that have accumulated ice.
- Be aware of falling debris: Watch out for falling tree branches that may be weighed down by ice.
- Look out for neighbors, elderly friends and relatives, pets and others who may need help during or after the storms.
Any wintry mix will make driving more dangerous. We ask people to stay home if they can, and keep roads as clear as possible for street crews and emergency responders. We will post updates on the street closure map linked below.
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Impact on city services uncertain
The City of Wilson's Environmental Services crews will be collecting Thursday's trash and recycling routes this Tuesday, Feb. 18, following the completion of the regular Tuesday routes. So please get those containers to the curb Tuesday morning.
The crews will not be making bulky items pickup this Wednesday. We hope to return to our regular schedules on Friday.
We do not yet know if the weather will close city administrative office, the Customer Service Center or city recreation centers this week or the impact on Wilson RIDE. Emergency services and utilities will be staffed at all times. Keep a watch on the city's social media channels or website for updates.
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