ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Snow rolled into Elizabeth City Friday around 3:45 p.m., as part of a winter storm moving through Hampton Roads and parts of North Carolina.
Glenn Cooke, NCDOT county maintenance engineer for Pasquotank, Camden, and Currituck counties, said crews are working around the clock to clear roadways.
"They’re working 12 to 17-hour shifts, then five or six hours of sleep, and back at it tomorrow," said Cooke, as he expects snow to continue into Saturday morning.
RELATED: 13News Now Winter Weather Guide
According to Cooke, early Friday morning, crews started work on bridges, underpasses, and areas known to get slick, including the U.S. Route 17 bypass near Elizabeth City.
Governor Roy Cooper issued a state of emergency for North Carolina because of the winter weather.
"I’ve seen a truck flipped completely on its hood. I’ve seen two brand new vehicles smashed into the guardrails," said Cooke.
A team of roughly 30 people is working throughout the three counties. Cooke said resources and staff are limited in smaller areas, so the load can be heavy. The department also relies on local contractors to treat the roads.
The National Guard is on standby to help areas hit hard in North Carolina, according to Gov. Cooper.
Glenn Parnell, emergency management coordinator for Elizabeth City, Pasquotank County, and Camden, said his department does not plan to set up an emergency operations center to assist with 911 calls.
On Thursday, Parnell told 13NewsNow, his team would be ready to open the center, if needed. However, around 7 p.m. Friday, he said there hadn't been many EMS and Fire calls, and most businesses were either closed for the day or closed early.
But that wasn't the case Seven Sounds Brewing Company on Water Street.
It opened three weeks ago, and bartender Chaz Miller says they monitored the conditions but planned to remain open for normal business hours around midnight.
"If it starts to get real bad and business kind of thins out, we'll probably close down a little early," he said.
Across the street, Tyrone Cox is taking a walk. He's lived in Elizabeth City for eight months.
"I'm from New York," he said. "This is not a lot."
North Carolina Emergency Management advises people to follow these tips to stay safe during the winter weather:
- Keep cell phones, mobile devices, and spare batteries charged in case your power goes out.
- Keep fresh batteries on hand for weather radios and flashlights.
- Dress warmly. Wear multiple layers of thin clothing instead of a single layer of thick clothing.
- Properly vent kerosene heaters and ensure generators are operated outside and away from open windows or doors to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Never burn charcoal indoors or use a gas grill indoors.
- Use battery-powered sources for light, instead of candles, if your power goes out.