OUTLOOK
Drier air will make it`s way into the region later today in the wake of a strong cold front. A wave of low pressure moving along the stationary front located just south of our region will bring a chance of precipitation back to the area late Tuesday and early Wednesday.
Severe Weather Coverage
Link to Macon Media play-by-play [LINK]
DAY SPONSOR
Carrion Tree Service is underwriting Macon Media for today. they are a fully licensed and insured tree service, specializing in dangerous tree removal, view clearing, pruning, and crane services with a 24 Hour emergency response.
Their phone number is 371-4718.
They can handle all your tree removal needs in good or bad weather.
BURN BAN
A ban on open burning in the 32 western counties of North Carolina is in effect until further notice. [LINK]
GENERAL FORECAST THROUGH WEDNESDAY
Today
Patchy fog this morning. Partly sunny with a chance of showers and thunderstorms this morning, then mostly sunny this afternoon. Some thunderstorms may be severe with damaging winds, large hail, and heavy rainfall. Windy with highs in the 60s. Winds out of the southwest 20 to 30 mph in the morning shifting to come out of the west 10 to 15 mph this afternoon. Chance of rain 50 percent.
Tonight
Partly cloudy. Cooler with lows around 40. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny. Highs in the 60s. Winds out of the east around 5 mph in the morning and shifting to come out of the south in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s. Winds out of the northwest around 5 mph.
Wednesday
Partly sunny in the morning, then becoming mostly sunny. Highs in the 50s. Winds out of the northwest around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s.
HAZARDS
A strong storm system last night and early this morning knocked over several trees onto homes and powerlines and resulted in flooding and landslides. A Wind Advisory is in effect until 4pm today and the various flood warnings expire at 6am and 8am. A Tornado Watch is also set to expire at 8am.
If you do have to leave your home today, please be on the lookout for debris in the roads, and possible downed trees and landslide debris in the roads.
**edit** 6:17am
The county Emergency Management Director sent a press release this morning regarding the severe weather the county experienced last night and this morning. Here it is:
For immeaiate Release
Macon County Emergency Services
April 13, 2020 05:30 AM
Warren Cabe, Director 911
Following severe storms this morning, high water has impacted travel across the area. Several roads are flooded and impassable. A debris flow or land slide has impacted an area off of the Old Murphy Road damaging at least one residence. There are reports of other smaller debris flows or landslides throughout the county. Several residences were evacuated from the community affected as a safety precaution. Crews will be enroute this morning to assess the damage. Extreme caution should be used on the roadways this morning.
BURN BAN
A ban on open burning in the 32 western counties of North Carolina is in effect until further notice. [LINK]
COVID-19 Update
The CDC website [LINK] reports 3,651 people in North Carolina (not updated since Friday) are infected and that the infections are widespread, the NCDHHS website [LINK] reports 4,520 confirmed cases, 331 hospitalized and 81 deaths in the state. The Johns Hopkins Dashboard [LINK] reports 4,602 people infected and 91 deaths (these include non-residents located in NC).
Resources for Reliable Information about the Corona Virus (COVID-19) [LINK]
White House adviser to 60 Minutes: Show me your pandemic story
60 Minutes: 2005 report on pandemic preparedness
Grassroots effort demands that NC relax coronavirus rules. But state says they’re working. [LINK]
A copy of a press release has been added below to address the new restrictions that will come into effect this afternoon at 5pm. Most local retailers have already enacted these restrictions in anticipation of the new guidelines.
PRESS RELEASE
Governor Roy Cooper
Raleigh
Apr 9, 2020
(minor grammatical correction added)
Governor Roy Cooper took action to address the spread of COVID-19 by issuing stronger social distancing requirements and speeding up the process to get benefits to people out of work through Executive Order No. 131.
Three key areas are addressed in Executive Order 131. The first requires retail stores that are still operating to implement new social distancing policies to make shopping safer for customers and employees. The second makes earlier COVID-19 guidelines mandatory for nursing facilities and recommends other long-term care facilities to do the same. The third area is unemployment benefits, issuing changes that will speed up certain benefit payments to those who are out of work.
“North Carolina continues to take strong action to slow the spread of COVID-19, and today’s Order will help make stores safer, protect those living and working in nursing homes, and get more unemployment benefits out quicker. Our state is resilient, and we will get through this crisis together if we all do our part,” said Governor Cooper.
POLICIES FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING IN RETAIL STORES
This Order offers clear requirements that essential businesses must implement in order to safeguard the health of customers and employees. Some of the directives include:
Setting limits of how many people can be in a store at one time, 5 people per 1,000 square feet of retail space or 20% of fire marshal posted occupancy limits
Marking 6 feet of distance for areas where people gather like checkout lines
Requiring specific cleaning measures for retail stores
The Order encourages:
•Implementing hygiene recommendations for employees and customers, like hand sanitizer at the doors and face coverings for workers
•Establishing designated shopping times designated for high-risk groups
•Creating barriers between customers and employees at checkout to lower the risk of required interactions
•Creating barriers between customers and employees at checkout to lower the risk of required interactions
The Order states these requirements will last for thirty days unless extended by further executive action.
LOWERING RISK IN LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES
The Order sets public health and safety requirements for nursing homes during the public health emergency. The Order encourages other long-term care facilities to follow the same guidance.
•Canceling communal activities, including group meals
•Taking the temperature of employees and essential personnel when they enter the facility
•Requiring specific personal protective equipment in the facility
•Requiring close monitoring of residents for COVID-19 health indicators like body temperature
•The Order states these requirements will last until this order is repealed.
STREAMLINING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS
The Order makes it easier for employers to file a batch of claims, called an attached claim, on behalf of their employees. By temporarily eliminating some of the hurdles for employers, benefits can get in the hands of those who need them faster.
The Order will extend 60 days beyond the date the state of emergency is lifted to allow employers to get back on their feet.
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Published at 6:00am on Easter Monday, April 13, 2020
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