Outlook
High pressure will build to the north of the area today before moving offshore Thursday. A strong cold front will approach from the west on Friday and cross the region on Saturday. Cooler high pressure will return Sunday into early next week.
County Commissioners Meet, Proclaim State of Emergency
The Macon County Board of Commissioners held an emergency meeting Tuesday afternoon. The meeting was closed to the public due to concerns about COVID-19 exposure. [LINK]
The Town of Franklin also declared a State of Emergency [LINK]
Macon County School System has geared up to deliver meals and remote learning to students. [LINK]
Corona Virus Updates for March 17, 2020
Resources for Reliable Information about the Corona Virus (COVID-19) [LINK]
CDC: Manage Stree & Anxiety [LINK]
The CDC advises people to limit gatherings of 50 o more people for the next eight weeks [LINK]
White House Corona Virus Task Force Briefing for March 17th [LINK]
15 Days to Slow the Spread
THE PRESIDENT'S CORONAVIRUS GUIDELINES FOR AMERICA
15 DAYS TO SLOW THE SPREAD
Listen to and follow the directions of your STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES
.
IF YOU FEEL SICK, stay home. Do not go to work. Contact your medical provider.
IF YOUR CHILDREN ARE SICK, keep them at home. Do not send them to school. Contact your medical provider.
IF SOMEONE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD HAS TESTED POSITIVE for the coronavirus, keep the entire household at home. Do not go to work. Do not go to school. Contact your medical provider.
IF YOU ARE AN OLDER PERSON, stay home and away from other people.
IF YOU ARE A PERSON WITH A SERIOUS UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITION that can put you at increased risk (for example, a condition that impairs your lung or heart function or weakens your immune system), stay home and away from other people.
Even if you are young, or otherwise healthy, you are at risk and your activities can increase the risk for others. It is critical that you do your part to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Work or engage in schooling FROM HOME whenever possible.
IF YOU WORK IN A CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE INDUSTRY, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security, such as healthcare services and pharmaceutical and food supply, you have a special responsibility to maintain your normal work schedule. Ho u and your employers should follow CDC guidance to protect your health at work.
AVOID SOCIAL GATHERINGS in groups of more than 10 people. Avoid eating or drinking at bars, restaurants, and food courts — USE DRIVE-THRU, PICKUP, OR DELIVERY OPTIONS.
AVOID DISCRETIONARY TRAVEL, shopping trips, and social visits.
DO NOT VISIT nursing homes or retirement or long-term care facilities unless to provide critical assistance.
PRACTICE GOOD HYGIENE:
•Wash your hands, especially after touching any frequently used item or surface.
•Avoid touching your face.
•Sneeze or cough into a tissue, or the inside, your elbow.
•Disinfect frequently used items and surfaces as much as possible.
Why outbreaks like coronavirus spread exponentially and how to "flatten the curve" [LINK]
The Korean clusters: How coronavirus cases exploded in South Korean churches and hospitals [LINK]
Corona Virus (COVID-19) Guidance from NCDHHS
NCDHHS
NC Dept of Health & Human Services
Raleigh
March 12, 2020
As the number of cases of COVID-19 rises in North Carolina and the United States, and with the designation of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, the state is responding with a whole government response. COVID-19 is a new infection that is particularly severe in older persons and those with medical conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and weakened immune systems.
At this time there are no approved treatments and no vaccine to prevent it. However, there are known methods to reduce and slow the spread of infection. Individuals can practice everyday prevention measures like frequent hand washing, staying home when sick, and covering coughs and sneezes. Community-based interventions can also help slow the spread of COVID-19. This includes measures collectively known as “social distancing.” Social distancing measures aim to reduce the frequency of contact and increase the physical distance between persons, thereby reducing the risks of person-to-person transmission. These measures are most effective when implemented early in an epidemic. We are at a critical inflection point where we may have the opportunity to slow the spread of this epidemic by taking proactive steps now.
NC DHHS is making the following recommendations to reduce the spread of infection while we are still in an early stage in order to protect lives and avoid strain on our health care system. NC DHHS is making these recommendations for the next 30 days and will re-assess at that point.
The following recommendations pertain to persons statewide.
1. SYMPTOMATIC PERSONS
If you need medical care and have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or suspect you might have COVID-19, call ahead and tell your health care provider you have or may have COVID-19. This will allow them to take steps to keep other people from getting exposed. NC DHHS recommends that persons experiencing fever and cough should stay at home and not go out until their symptoms have completely resolved.
2. HIGH RISK PERSONS WITHOUT SYMPTOMS
NC DHHS recommends that people at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 should stay at home to the extent possible to decrease the chance of infection.
People at high risk include people:
Over 65 years of age, or
with underlying health conditions including heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes, or
with weakened immune systems.
3. CONGREGATE LIVING FACILITIES
NC DHHS recommends that all facilities that serve as residential establishments for high-risk persons described above should restrict visitors. Exceptions should include end of life care or other emergent situations determined by the facility to necessitate a visit. If visitation is allowed, the visitor should be screened and restricted if they have a respiratory illness or potential exposure to COVID-19. Facilities are encouraged to implement social distancing measures and perform temperature and respiratory symptom screening of residents and staff. These establishments include settings such as nursing homes, independent and assisted living facilities, correction facilities, and facilities that care for medically vulnerable children.
4. SCHOOLS
We do not recommend pre-emptive school closure at this time but do recommend that schools and childcare centers cancel or reduce large events and gatherings (e.g., assemblies) and field trips, limit inter-school interactions, and consider distance or e-learning in some settings. Students at high risk should implement individual plans for distance or e-learning. School dismissals may be necessary when staff or student absenteeism impacts the ability to remain open. Short-term closures may also be necessary to facilitate public health investigation and/or cleaning if a case is diagnosed in a student or staff member.
5. WORKPLACE
NC DHHS recommends that employers and employees use teleworking technologies to the greatest extent possible, stagger work schedules, and consider canceling non-essential travel. Workplaces should hold larger meetings virtually, to the extent possible. Additionally, employers should arrange the workspace to optimize the distance between employees, ideally at least six feet apart. Employers should urge high-risk employees to stay home and urge employees to stay home when they are sick and maximize flexibility in sick leave benefits.
6. MASS GATHERINGS, COMMUNITY, AND SOCIAL EVENTS
NC DHHS recommends that organizers of events that draw more than 100 people should cancel, postpone, modify these events or offer online streaming services. These events include large gatherings where people are in close contact (less than 6 feet), for example: concerts, conferences, sporting events, faith-based events, and other large gatherings.
7. MASS TRANSIT
Mass transit operators should maximize opportunities for cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces. People should avoid using mass transit (e.g. buses, trains) while sick.
Macon County Public Health Update, March 10th
- Carmine Rocco, Interim Health Director
- Jennifer Garrett, Public Health Nursing Supervisor
Recent Meeting Videos Delayed
Thanks to an assist from the folks at Wired, the video editing computer is back up and videos should be forthcoming. Thanks to everyone who has been patient and thanks to the donor who has made it possible to have a new video editing computer built that will be in service soon.
Public Safety Log
(this section is temporarily deprecated until I get caught up with videos from past meetings.
THREE DAY GFS FORECAST
The maps have been switched from showing the eastern United States to the Western Atlantic Region in anticipation of warmer weather when our weather pattern is more susceptible to being impacted by what happens in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.
This animated image shows a forecast of precipitation, air pressure and thickness level (cold-air damming) for three days in six-hour increments.
Green, Yellow, and Red indicate rain. Orange and Purple Indicate Freezing Rain or other freezing precipitation. Blue indicates snow.
The next one shows the forecast for rain in 24hour totals over the next few days.
And this one shows the forecast for surface pressure (in mb) and winds at 10 metres (30 feet) over the same time period.
WEATHER SPONSOR
Adams Products, a Division of Oldcastle is underwriting the daily weather briefing & public safety updates for the month.
Open 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, M-F, located at 895 Hickory Knoll Road, Franklin, NC. Visit our Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/Adams.Oldcastle.Franklin.NC/
All your masonry needs are available. Our phone number is 828.524.8545, the public is welcome, we’ll help you with your next project.
Weather Hazards
Hazardous Weather is not expected today.
Heavy rain showers are expected Friday through Friday night. Minor flooding of low-lying areas will be possible under any persistent rain showers that develop.
CROWDFUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.
Or, if you prefer Pay Pal, try PayPal.me/MaconMedia
WEATHER FORECAST MAPS
Forecast maps for 7 am, 1 pm, and 7 pm.
[click on any image in this article to enlarge]
FRANKLIN AREA FORECAST
Today
A slight chance of rain between 11am and noon, then a chance of showers after noon. Patchy fog between 8am and 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. Calm wind becoming south southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
A 50 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog after 9pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Light south southeast wind. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Thursday
A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind around 6 mph.
Friday
Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then showers likely. Low around 51. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
OTTO AREA FORECAST
Today
A slight chance of showers before 11am, then a slight chance of rain between 11am and noon, then a chance of showers after noon. Patchy fog between 8am and 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. Calm wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
Showers likely, mainly between 11pm and midnight. Patchy fog after 9pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. South wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Thursday
A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. South wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Friday
Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Southwest wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then showers likely. Low around 52. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
HIGHLANDS PLATEAU FORECAST
Today
A slight chance of rain between 8am and 9am, then a chance of showers after 9am. Patchy fog before noon, then patchy fog after 2pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. Southeast wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Tonight
Showers likely, mainly before 3am. Patchy fog before 7pm, then patchy fog after 8pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 53. South southeast wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday
A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. Southwest wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. South wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday
Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. Southwest wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then showers likely. Low around 49. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
NANTAHALA AREA FORECAST
Today
A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 2pm. Patchy fog between 9am and 10am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 61. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the morning. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
A 40 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. South wind 5 to 7 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Thursday
A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. South southwest wind 6 to 10 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Thursday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind around 9 mph.
Friday
A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 66. Southwest wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2am, then showers likely. Low around 49. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Published at 5:00am on Wednesday, March 18, 2020
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