>> GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

AS WE SHARE UPDATES ON THE WINTER STORM THAT IS ARRIVING IN NORTH CAROLINA AS WE SPEAK.

PRECIPITATION HAS ALREADY BEGUN IN THE FAR WEST AND WILL MOVE EAST OVER THE COURSE OF THE DAY.

I'M JOINED BY DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WILL RAY.

SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION DANIEL JOHNSON, SECRETARY PUBLIC SAFETY.

JEFF SMYTH, SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEATH SAYING BY MAJOR GENERAL TODD HUNT OF THE NORTH CAROLINA NATIONAL GUARD AND THE COMMANDER OF THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL.

COLONEL FREDDY JOHNSON TRACKING METIVIER AND MARYLEE BAHAR, OUR SPANISH LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS AND OUR AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS ARE NICOLE FOX AND KAREN AGAIN.

IN MOST PARTS OF NORTH CAROLINA, YOU CAN EXPECT THE WEATHER TO IMPACT YOUR LIFE STARTING TODAY AND LASTING UNTIL NEXT WEEK.

IF YOU'RE WATCHING FROM HOME, HOPEFULLY MADE ALL THE PREPARATIONS THAT YOU NEED BECAUSE DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE, IT'S ABOUT TIME TO STAY PUT.

PLEASE DO NOT BE OUT ON THE ROADS UNLESS IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

THAT'S FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY AS WELL AS THE SAFETY OF THE NC DOT.

ROAD CREWS, THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL, THE POWER COMPANY LINE CREWS AND OTHER EMERGENCY WORKERS WHO ARE ALREADY HARD AT WORK.

STARTING TODAY.

WE'RE ANTICIPATING SLEET, ICE AND FREEZING RAIN.

WHETHER YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE DRIVING IN AND THEN NEXT WEEK IS GOING TO BE COLD.

AND MOST OF THE STATE WE EXPECT TEMPERATURE TO FALL BELOW FREEZING EVERY NIGHT FOR THE NEXT WEEK.

WHATEVER ICE OR SNOW IS ON THE GROUND AT THE END OF THE DAY WILL REFREEZE OVERNIGHT.

BLACK ICE WILL REMAIN A RISK IN MANY PLACES INTO NEXT WEEK, ESPECIALLY ON BRIDGES, OVERPASSES AND SHADED AREAS.

DANGEROUS TRAVELING CONDITIONS ARE NOT, HOWEVER, OUR ONLY CONCERN, PLEASE PLAN FOR THE POSSIBILITY THAT YOU'LL NOT ONLY BE STUCK AT HOME FOR A FEW DAYS, BUT THAT YOU MAY BE WITHOUT POWER.

ICE ACCUMULATION IS HEAVIER THAN SNOW AND IT CAN KNOCK OVER TREES WHICH CAN THEN FALL ON POWER LINES.

AVOID ANY DOWNED POWER LINE AND REPORT IT TO YOUR UTILITY.

FELLOW NORTH CAROLINIANS.

THIS IS A SERIOUS STORE.

WE ARE TAKING IT SERIOUSLY.

AND SO SHOULD YOU.

LAST NIGHT I REQUESTED AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP WHICH WE RECEIVED APPROVAL OF THAT REQUEST WITHIN THE LAST HOUR.

THIS DECLARATION ENABLES US TO ACCESS FEDERAL ASSETS SO THAT WE CAN DEPLOY ADDITIONAL GENERATORS TO CRITICAL FACILITIES LIKE HOSPITALS SUPPORT SHELTERING OPERATIONS, PROVIDE EMERGENCY FOOD, WATER AND FUEL.

GET HELP FROM THE FOREST SERVICE TO REMOVED DOWNED TREES.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND IT'S QUICKER APPROVAL OF OUR REQUEST.

AT THE STATE LEVEL.

WE'VE SHIPPED MORE THAN 100 PALLETS OF MEALS AND DRINKING WATER ACROSS THE STATE.

IN ADDITION TO MORE THAN 700 COTS AND BLANKETS.

THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL IS READY TO CLEAR ROADS AND RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES AND C DOT IS FULLY STOCKED WITH FUEL AND SALT TO RESPOND TO THE WEATHER AROUND THE CLOCK.

21 COUNTIES ARE OPENING WARMING STATIONS.

7 COUNTIES ARE OPENING SHELTERS.

WE EXPECT MORE TO HAPPEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE DAY.

NOW, HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO.

STAY INFORMED.

MAKE SURE YOU'RE FOLLOWING YOUR LOCAL MEDIA.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY FOR THE LATEST UPDATES AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

NEXT.

DOUBLE.

CHECK YOUR PLAN FOR HOW YOUR HOUSEHOLD WILL FUNCTION IF THE POWER GOES OUT.

HOW WERE YOU SAFELY?

KEEP MORE.

WHAT WILL YOU EAT?

WHO WILL YOU CALL FOR HELP IN CASE YOU NEED IT.

BE READY TO REACH OUT TO FAMILY.

NEIGHBORS ARE AUTHORITIES IF YOU ARE WITHOUT POWER FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

LASTLY, DON'T FORGET TO CHECK ON YOUR LOVED ONES, YOUR NEIGHBORS OR ANYONE, YOU KNOW WHO MIGHT BE VULNERABLE.

WHEN WE SEE SOMEONE WHO NEEDS HELP, WE EXTEND A HELPING HAND.

THAT'S THE NORTH CAROLINA WAY.

THE SAFEST WAY FOR US TO GET THROUGH A STORM LIKE THIS IS TO DO IT TOGETHER.

THANK YOU.

AND I NOW INVITE FOR DIRECTOR RAY AND THEN SECRETARY JOHNSON.

THANK YOU, GOVERNOR.

AND GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

WINTER STORM WARNINGS, ICE STORM WARNINGS AND WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES ARE GOING INTO EFFECT STARTING MIDDAY TODAY FOR WESTERN AREAS.

>> OF OUR STATE.

AND LATER THIS EVENING, FARTHER EAST.

THESE WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL MONDAY ACROSS MUCH OF THE STATE.

SIGNIFICANT WINTRY PRECIPITATION IS FORECAST OVER THE WEEKEND WITH MAJOR IMPACTS LINGERING INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK AS DANGEROUSLY COLD TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST.

LIGHT.

WINTRY PRECIPITATION HAS ALREADY BEGUN ACROSS THE FAR WESTERN PORTIONS OF OUR STATE.

BUT IMPACTS WILL BE LIMITED UNTIL ACCUMULATION BEGINS AROUND MIDDAY ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS.

MIXED WINTRY PRECIPITATION WILL EXPAND INTO CENTRAL AND EASTERN PORTIONS OF OUR STATE BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EVENING HOURS, SLEET FREEZING RAIN AND RAIN WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY AND INTO EARLY MONDAY.

MAJOR IMPACTS FROM SIGNIFICANT ICE ACCUMULATIONS ARE FORECAST TO CROSS THE SOUTHERN MOUNTAIN REGIONS AND INTO PORTIONS OF THE BLUE RIDGE'S CARTMAN WHERE THREE-QUARTERS TO OVER ONE INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED.

AT THIS TIME.

MUCH OF THE PIEDMONT IS FORECAST TO RECEIVE GREATER THAN A QUARTER INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATIONS, THE GREATEST SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE MOUNTAINS AND THE NORTHWEST PIEDMONT, WHERE 2 TO 4 INCHES IS FORECAST.

WELL, PRECIPITATION MAY BEGIN AS LIGHT SNOW.

MOST OF THE ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE FROM SLEEP.

WITH COLD TEMPERATURES SETTLING INTO THE REGION.

ANY ACCUMULATIONS WILL LINGER INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK.

AND BLACK ICE IS POSSIBLE EACH NIGHT ALL NORTH CAROLINIANS SHOULD BE FINALIZING PLANS NOW AND SHOULD BE PREPARED TO STAY HOME AND OFF THE ROADWAY.

STARTING LATER TODAY THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK.

THE STATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM, INCLUDING ALL OF OUR INTERAGENCY PARTNERS, THE PRIVATE SECTOR NONPROFIT IN VOLUNTEER AGENCIES REMAIN ACTIVATED THEIR 51 LOCAL STATES OF EMERGENCY AND ITS GOVERNOR SAID 21 LOCAL EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER ACTIVATED OR AND MONITORING STATUS.

WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT COMMODITY DISTRIBUTION.

AND AS OF THIS MORNING, THE STATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM HAS DISTRIBUTED APPROXIMATELY 120 PALLETS OF MREs, OR MEALS READY TO EAT AND DRINKING WATER TO ASSIST COMMUNITIES WITH SHELTER OR WARMING CENTER OPERATIONS.

THIS IS IN ADDITION TO APPROXIMATELY 1100 COTS AND BLANKETS TO SUPPLEMENT LOCAL SUPPLIES AS WELL AS THE COMMODITIES THAT HAVE BEEN SHIPPED INTO LOCAL COMMUNITIES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS AS WE WORK TO BUILD LOCAL CAPACITY.

MANY COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE ARE OPENING SHELTER LOCATIONS ARE WARMING STATIONS FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON THOSE RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

PLEASE VISIT YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY'S WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS.

THE NORTH CAROLINA NATIONAL GUARD IN THE ENTIRETY OF THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE HIGHWAY PATROL ARE ACTIVE IN ON STATION TODAY ACROSS THE STATE TO ASSIST LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND STATE PARTNERS WITH CLEARING ROADWAYS, RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES AND WITH TRANSPORTATION NEEDS.

95 NATIONAL GUARD FORCE PACKAGES ARE ON STATION AND WILL BE ASSISTING WITH CLEARING ROADWAYS FROM DOWNED TREES, HELPING DISABLED MOTORISTS SUPPLEMENTING FIRST RESPONDERS AND ASSISTING WITH COMMODITY DISTRIBUTION, THESE FORCE PACKAGES REMAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 454 SOLDIERS, 182 VEHICLES AND 3, UH, 60 BLACK HAWK HELICOPTERS.

WE REMAIN IN CLOSE COORDINATION WITH OUR ENERGY SECTOR PARTNERS WHO ARE REPRESENTED HERE AT THE STATE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER.

AND WE'LL BE CLOSELY MONITORING POWER OUTAGE INFORMATION TO QUICKLY ASSIST IN RESTORING POWER IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT MAY SEE OUTAGES.

THE NORTH CAROLINA FOREST SERVICE REMAINS WITH THEIR RESOURCES ON STATION AND PERSONNEL STAGED ACROSS THE STATE.

THEY'RE READY TO ASSIST LOCAL FIRST RESPONDERS WITH ROADWAY CLEARING WHERE NEEDED.

COMMUNICATIONS PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT.

AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED IN PREVIOUS DAYS HAVE BEEN PRE-DEPLOYED TO ASSIST WITH DEGRADATION OF THE 9-1-1 SYSTEMS, RADIO SYSTEMS AND PHONER DATA SYSTEMS.

IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY AND CALL 9-1-1, ANOTHER COMMUNITIES.

9-1-1, CENTER ANSWERS.

DO NOT HANG UP, PROVIDE THEM WITH DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR SITUATION, YOUR LOCATION AND THEY CAN THEY CAN AND WILL ASSIST YOU AS A REMINDER 9-1-1, SHOULD BE USED FOR EMERGENCIES.

ONLY FOR GENERAL INFORMATION.

PLEASE CALL 2, 1, 1, OR FOLLOW YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WEBSITES AND SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE ENTIRE STATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM ARE LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS, THE PRIVATE SECTOR, A NONPROFIT IN VOLUNTEER AGENCIES AS THE FORECAST CONTINUES TO EVOLVE TO ENSURE WE CAN SUPPORT ARE 11 MILLION NORTH CAROLINIANS.

FINALLY, AS I SAID YESTERDAY, PLEASE CHECK ON YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS, YOUR NEIGHBORS, FOR THOSE IN YOUR COMMUNITY WHO MAY NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THIS WEEKEND, WE'RE GOING TO SEE SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM IMPACTS AND WE ARE STRONGER AND MORE RESILIENT TOGETHER.

THANK YOU, GOVERNOR.

NOW TURN IT OVER TO SECRETARY JOHNSON FROM NC DOT.

THANK YOU, GOVERNOR DIRECTOR ROY, AS WE START TO SEE SOME OF THE INITIAL WAYS OF THE STORM IN THE WESTERN PART OF OUR STATE.

I WANT TO REITERATE WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID THIS MORNING.

>> PLEASE AVOID TRAVEL THIS WEEKEND UNLESS IT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

STAYING OFF THE ROADS NEXT FEW DAYS WILL NOT ONLY HELP KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE TO HELP KEEP OUR CREWS, EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AND OTHER PERSONNEL SAFE AS THEY DO THEIR IMPORTANT WORK.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO DRIVE IN THE CONDITIONS THAT WE ANTICIPATE.

WILL IMPACT OUR ROADS.

YOU ARE ROLLING THE DICE WITH POOR ODDS.

THE RISK OF CRASHING IN THESE CONDITIONS IS HIGH, WHICH CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY OR BEING STRANDED IN A DISABLED VEHICLE AND BITTERLY COLD CONDITIONS.

ONE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IN THE DAYS AHEAD IS THAT FREEZING TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO CREATE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS ON THE ROADS JUST BECAUSE PRECIPITATION ISN'T FALLING.

DOESN'T MEAN IT'S SAFE TO TRAVEL.

IF YOU'RE TRAVELING BY RAIL, PLEASE CHECK AMTRAK AND NC BY TRAIN FOR UPDATED SCHEDULES AS MANY ROUTES ARE CLOSING AHEAD OF THE STORM.

FERRIES MAY ALSO BE IMPACTED DUE TO HIGH WINDS.

POLICE SKETCH SKIP THE CHECK SCHEDULES AHEAD OF ANY TRAVEL.

IT'S A DOT.

CREWS HAVE BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY THIS WEEK ON PRE STORM PREPARATIONS.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR ALL THEIR EFFORTS AND FOR THE WORK THEY'LL DO TO HELP CLEAR THE ROADS IN THE DAYS AHEAD.

WE HAVE CREWS STRATEGICALLY PLACED ACROSS THE STATE AND READY TO HELP WITH CLEARING ROADS, CUTTING BRANCHES AND ASSISTING OUR UTILITY PARTNERS IN CASES INVOLVING DAMAGE POWER LINES.

MORE THAN 2000 DOT EMPLOYEES BE WORK WILL BE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS TO ADDRESS STORM IMPACTS.

WE'VE PULLED OUR PORT ARE FULL EFFORT INTO PREPARING FOR THIS EVENT BECAUSE WE AREN'T TAKING CHANCES WITH YOUR SAFETY.

I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO STAY INFORMED IF AT ALL POSSIBLE TO STAY PUT THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE STORM.

UNTIL IT'S DEEMED SAFE TO TRAVEL.

PEOPLE CAN VISIT DRIVE-IN C .GOV.

TO VIEW THE LATEST ROAD CONDITIONS AND OTHER STORM-RELATED INFORMATION.

THANK YOU.

WE'LL TURN BACK OVER TO GOVERNOR.

IT'S TIME FOR QUESTIONS.

SECRETARY JOHNSON, I FOLKS HAVE QUESTIONS.

PLEASE GO TO ONE OF THE MARKET FUNDS ON EITHER SIDE.

>> AND IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS AND THE ROOM, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ONLINE?

>> AND YOU CAN SWITCH TO.

>> DO YOU SEE THE NEWS?

YOU MAY ASK YOUR QUESTION.

>> I AM ANYTHING AND >> WITH THE WINTER STORM HERE IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE STILL RECOVERING FROM HURRICANE HELENE, WILL THE STATE HELP WITH DEBRIS CLEANUP.

AND ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE RISK OF DISEASES LIKE MEASLES, EMERGENCY SHELTERS?

HOW IS THE STATE DIRECTING THAT?

>> I WILL INVITE FOR THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO ANSWER THE SECOND QUESTION.

I WILL WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE DOUBLE WHAMMY IMPACT IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

THEY'RE ALREADY A LOT OF DOWNED TREES LEFT ON THE GROUND FROM THE LAST STORM.

HURRICANE HELENE AND ANY FUTURE.

TREES FALLING WILL CREATE MORE HEADACHES, CREATE MORE FUEL ON THE GROUND.

ONCE WE GET INTO WILDFIRE SEASON, WE INTEND TO WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE STATE FOREST SERVICE AND THE U.S.

FOREST SERVICE TO MAKE SURE ROADWAYS ARE CLEARED.

POWER LINES ARE NOT IMPACTED AND DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP PEOPLE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

GET THROUGH THIS WITH THE MINIMUM IMPACT POSSIBLE AS IT RELATES TO TRANSMITTABLE DISEASES.

SECRETARY?

THANK YOU, GOVERNOR.

YOU KNOW, ANY TIME WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS IN CLOSE QUARTERS, WE WORRY ABOUT ANY KIND OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE.

>> SO WE ASKED THAT INDIVIDUALS PRACTICE THOSE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME.

IF YOU'RE SICK, KEEP YOUR DISTANCE.

IF YOU HAPPEN TO TOUCH SURFACES OR CLOSE TO OTHERS, WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY, HAND HYGIENE.

KEEPING YOUR DISTANCE ARE GOING TO BE 2 IMPORTANT THINGS, PARTICULARLY IF YOU'RE IN CLOSE QUARTERS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON LINE.

>> ANY CHANCE AS ANOTHER QUESTION?

>> AND YOU COULD PLEASE, GOD.

>> THANK YOU.

JUST A QUICK FOLLOW-UP ABOUT THE ROAD.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE SECRETARY MENTIONED WEINSTEIN DAY TO TRAVEL.

>> WHEN DO YOU EXPECT THAT TO BE?

>> NOW WE HAVE TO SEE HOW HEAVY A WALLOP THIS STORM BRINGS.

THE FEAR IS THE LINGERING COLD INTO NEXT WEEK.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE REAL IMPACTS ON FOLKS ABILITY TO TRAVEL.

IF THERE'S AN AREA THAT'S IN THE SHADE, IF IT'S A BRIDGE OR AN OVERPASS WHERE IT'S NOT GETTING AROUND TEMPERATURE, THOSE AREAS TEND TO STAY.

I SEE BEYOND WHEN YOU WOULD THINK THE I SHOULD BE THERE.

AND SO WE WILL OVER THE COURSE OF THE COMING DAYS HAVE MORE INFORMATION, MORE GUIDANCE FOR DRIVERS DRIVENC.GOV.

GET CORRECT.

THIS.

EVERY TIME I THREW OUT A WEBSITE, I GOT TO BE WARY FOLKS TO CHECK DRIVENC.GOV FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION AND THEY'RE PART OF THE STATE.

THAT'S THE OTHER THING IS YOU MIGHT BE AND THE FAR EAST AND THINGS THAT ACTUALLY MAY BE BETTER ON MONDAY.

BUT THEN YOU MAY BE UP IN BOONE AND WATAUGA COUNTY AND IT'S STILL HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE.

SO FOLKS REALLY NEED TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY.

>> WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.

I'M JOSE SANDOVAL WITH.

LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO.

>> THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, JUST AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE BASED OUT OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA THERE.

ANY CONCERNS ABOUT?

LOSING PHONE SERVICE TO PHONE SIGNAL?

ANY CONCERNS LIKE THAT FOR THE REGION?

>> WE ARE WORRIED WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE STORM ON ALL KINDS OF INFRASTRUCTURE, WHETHER ITS ROADS AND BEING ABLE TO DRIVE OR WHETHER ITS PHONES BEING ABLE TO TALK TO EACH OTHER, WHETHER IT'S WATER WASTEWATER.

SO WE'RE JUST ON OUR TOES WORKING IN CONJUNCTION NOT ONLY AT THE STATE LEVEL, BUT WITH OUR LOCAL PARTNERS AND WITH OUR PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS SO THAT WE CAN BE AS RESPONSIVE TO WHATEVER HICCUPS COME ALONG THE WAY.

>> THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ON.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

GOOD LUCK GETTING THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS.