Mitchell County was blanketed with snow this weekend, the second weekend in a row to see extreme winter weather.
Local governments officially declared States of Emergency going into the weekend as Winter Storm Gianna sailed in to take the place of the previous Winter Storm Fern.
Two warming shelters were opened for the homeless and others in need over the weekend, one in Buladean and one at First Baptist Church in Spruce Pine.
“These locations are warming shelters only and are intended for temporary relief from the cold,” the Mitchell County Fire Marshal/Emergency Management office said in a public announcement.
On Sunday, Emergency Management also asked county residents to conserve energy to make sure there was enough power for everyone during the cold snap.
“Extremely cold temperatures — 10 to 20 degrees below normal — are driving unusually high energy demand across our mountains and throughout the Carolinas,” the alert read. “As a result, power supplies are limited, and Duke Energy and French Broad Electric is asking customers to voluntarily reduce energy use to help lessen strain on the grid and reduce the potential for temporary outages.”
Steps recommended to conserve energy Monday morning included:
• Setting thermostats to the lowest comfortable setting and wear extra layers.
• Avoiding using electric space heaters until temperatures rise.
• Postpone use of washers, dryers, and dishwashers during peak hours.
• Open blinds and curtains during daylight to naturally warm your home.
• Avoid using electric ovens and stovetops during peak demand.
• Turn off unnecessary appliances, devices, plug-ins, and lights.
• Avoid charging electronics in the morning.
• Electric vehicle owners: Charge midday when demand is lower.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation encouraged drivers to avoid the roads as much as possible during the extreme weather.
“Our crews are making progress clearing roads across the state today,” said State Transportation Secretary Daniel Johnson. “Conditions are varied across the state, and we encourage people to continue to avoid travel where snow and ice are still on the roads.”