The City of Asheville is actively preparing for winter weather expected this weekend, with crews across departments taking steps to ensure public safety, maintain critical services, and respond quickly to weather-related impacts. This includes activating the City’s Emergency Operation Plan.
Public Works: Road and Snow Operations
Public Works crews will begin 24/7 staffing starting Friday morning to support winter weather operations. Preparations include:
- Renting additional equipment to increase snow removal capacity
- Increasing staffing levels to support around-the-clock operations
- Pre-positioning resources to respond quickly to road conditions
Important reminder:
Do not park on the road after 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan 23. All City-owned parking garages will remain open beginning Friday 5p.m. free of charge for those who need to park their vehicle. This allows snow plows and treatment vehicles clear access to remove snow and improve road conditions.
Water Resources: Protecting the Water System
The City’s Water Resources team is taking proactive measures to maintain service and respond to potential issues:
- Filling all water distribution tanks ahead of the storm
- Ensuring maintenance trucks and equipment are pre-positioned, fully fueled and ready to deploy
- Doubling duty officers to respond quickly to potential water leaks or main breaks
Important reminder: Residents are encouraged to drip faucets during freezing temperatures to help prevent frozen or burst pipes and follow these recommendations.
To report an outage, call Customer Service at (828) 251-1122.
Fire & Police: Public Safety Readiness
The Asheville Fire Department (AFD) and Asheville Police Department (APD) are preparing to maintain emergency response capabilities throughout the storm:
- Increasing staffing levels
- Equipping public safety vehicles with chains and cables for winter driving
- Confirming backup communication plans in case phone lines or radio systems are disrupted
What Community Members Can Do
Residents can help keep themselves and others safe by taking the following steps:
- Avoid unnecessary travel during winter weather when possible
- Park vehicles off roadways after 5 p.m. Friday, January 23, to allow snow plows to operate throughout the weekend as needed
- Drip faucets and insulate exposed pipes to prevent freezing
- Check on neighbors, especially seniors and those with limited mobility
- Prepare an emergency kit with food, water, medications, flashlights, and batteries
- Stay informed by monitoring City of Asheville updates and local weather forecasts
City crews will continue monitoring conditions and will provide updates as needed.