To Report a Fire, Medical or Police Emergency................911
Burke County 911 will remain fully-operational, but response times may be longer when road conditions become hazardous. Residents are asked to reserve 911 for life-threatening emergencies
Non-Emergency Fire & Police related Calls: 828-879-2101
Including calls that cannot wait until the next business day. These calls will be directed to Burke County communications for dispatch. Do not use this number for emergency calls.
Burke County Non-Emergency hotline: All non-emergency questions can be directed to the PIO Hotline at 828-764-9388.
Travel: Please limit travel to emergencies and stay tuned to Town of Valdese website and social media for road closures and any power outage information.
Stay Informed:
CodeRED – Community Notification System – Follow this link to enroll: https://www.townofvaldese.com/contact/emergency-contact-information/
Burke Alert - Community Updates for Burke County during emergency situations – Follow this link to enroll: https://www.burkenc.org/2492/Burke-Alert-Information
Power Outages: Duke Energy: Call 1-800-769-3766 or text OUT to 57801 to report a power outage
To report downed trees or structure collapses: Call 828-879-2128 – or the non-emergency dispatch number 828-879-2101
BE PREPARED:
The Town of Valdese is monitoring the winter weather for this weekend. If possible, Public Works is asking that citizens NOT park on the street from Friday to Monday to help speed up the street clearing process, again - if at all possible.
Please be patient, as Public Works will be working on more than 37 miles of town roads with four trucks. They will work as quickly as they are able. In the event of heavy snow/ice accumulations, the process of plowing will be lengthy.
Please remove trash and recycling carts from the curb to aid in road clearing. If regular pickups are postponed, notice will be shared as soon as they are available.
WATER: To prevent pipes from freezing and breaking within your home, you can leave a faucet dripping. If you see a water main break, please report it to Public Works at 828-879-2128. Please leave a message – as the volume of calls may be high at times. Sinks on exterior walls? Open cabinet doors to let warm air reach pipes. Let faucet drip.
- Residents should prepare in advance, limit travel during the storm, and use caution once conditions improve. Power outages, hazardous road conditions, and extended cold are possible.
- Residents are strongly encouraged to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours. This includes having adequate water, non-perishable food, prescription medications, and necessary medical supplies. Residents who rely on oxygen should ensure they have a backup supply. If a patient using oxygen must go to a shelter or hospital, they must bring their own oxygen equipment.
- If you plan to use a generator, it must be operated outdoors only and far away from doors, windows, and vents – keep them 20 feet or more from your home. Never run a generator, grill, or propane heater inside a home, garage, or near open windows. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless and can be deadly in minutes. Every home should have working carbon monoxide detectors.
- PETS: Bring pets indoors. Keep walks short. Keep them hydrated. Check paws for snow, ice, or chemicals.
SAFETY REMINDERS:
- Stay away from power lines that have fallen or are sagging. Consider all lines energized, as well as trees, limbs, fences, or anything in contact with lines.
- Ensure mobile phones remain charged, and you have an adequate supply of flashlights, batteries, bottled water, nonperishable foods, and medicines.
- Do not use grills or other outdoor appliances indoors for space heating or cooking, as these devices may emit carbon monoxide.
- If a power line falls across a car that you're in, stay in the car. If you MUST exit the car due to a fire or other immediate life-threatening situation, do your best to jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Be sure that no part of your body is touching the car when your feet touch the ground.
- Winter storms can result in hazardous driving conditions. Stay off the road if possible, but if you must travel, watch for utility crews working along the road restoring power. Move over or slow down and give them room to work safely.
- Never leave heaters unattended and keep them 3 feet away from anything flammable. Use automatic shut off.
