The City of Greensboro remained under its full Snow and Ice Response Plan Monday night as crews reported major progress clearing roads following Winter Storm Fern – while also opening White Flag warming centers to protect residents from freezing overnight temperatures.
According to the city, crews cleared 96 percent of Priority 1 roads to bare pavement during the past 24 hours – roughly 1,130 miles of emergency service routes, multi-lane roads and other high-traffic corridors.
Work included plowing, salting and grading icy spots.
Assistant City Manager Tiffany Oliva said that residents should continue using caution – particularly during the overnight and early morning hours when refreezing is likely.
While sunny conditions helped melt some ice during the day, low overnight temperatures increase the risk of slick roads in the mornings.
Nearly 200 frontline city employees have been working alternating 12-hour shifts since Saturday and will continue overnight operations.
Crews are now focused on clearing Priority 2 roads to bare pavement.
City officials noted that many of those routes have already been plowed; however, multiple passes are often required before bare pavement conditions are achieved.
The Snow and Ice Response Plan will remain in effect until all Priority 1 through Priority 3 routes have been fully cleared. The city’s interactive snow map, along with service changes and meeting cancellations, remains available on the Winter Weather page of the city’s website.
In addition to its road clearing operations, the City of Greensboro activated two White Flag warming centers Monday and Tuesday nights in response to freezing temperatures. First Baptist Church at 1000 West Friendly Avenue is open to single adults and families and is staffed by employees from the Interactive Resource Center.
Glenwood Recreation Center at 2010 Coliseum Boulevard is open to women and families and is staffed by a combination of IRC employees and the city’s Community Safety Department.
Transportation is being provided between the two sites in the evening, and the Greensboro Transit Agency, with support from the Greensboro Police Department, is transporting individuals from the warming centers to the Interactive Resource Center for daytime warming on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.
White Flag status is activated when actual or “feels-like” temperatures are 32 degrees or lower for two or more hours, particularly during winter weather events that include freezing precipitation, extended below-freezing temperatures, or wind conditions that can affect homeless encampments.
The city’s response follows a state of emergency declared ahead of the storm by Mayor Marikay Abuzuaiter. The declaration, issued last week in advance of Winter Storm Fern, activated coordination under the Guilford County Emergency Operations Plan and urged residents to stay off the roads so emergency and utility crews could operate safely.
City officials continue to encourage residents to avoid unnecessary travel, watch for refreezing conditions, and stay informed through official city updates as cleanup efforts continue.
