Stein Declares State of Emergency as Winter Storm Threatens Buncombe County

Governor Josh Stein declared a State of Emergency on Jan. 29 to mobilize state resources and preserve eligibility for federal assistance as a winter storm expected to arrive the morning of Jan. 31 moves into North Carolina. The declaration activates the State Emergency Response Team and signals coordinated staging by transportation, emergency management, public safety, the State Highway Patrol, and the National Guard.

Forecasts call for a winter storm warning covering much of the region, including Buncombe County, from 4 p.m. Jan. 30 through the morning of Feb. 1. The National Weather Service is forecasting total snow accumulations of 4 to 7 inches across Western North Carolina and has issued an extreme cold watch for the afternoon of Jan. 31 through Feb. 1. Officials warned of “dangerously cold” wind chills as low as 22 degrees below zero in some forecasts, while the governor’s office said mountain wind chills could reach minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit and fall below zero elsewhere.

State preparations are substantial and ongoing. North Carolina Department of Transportation crews pre-treated interstates and major roads with brine and, as of Friday morning, roughly 1,400 NCDOT employees had spread more than 2.6 million gallons of brine statewide. NCDOT has staged chainsaw crews to remove downed trees and will operate in 12-hour shifts until state-maintained roads are cleared. “Most road-clearing work from last weekend’s storm is complete and we started pre-treating roads with brine yesterday so we’re ready for what this next storm brings,” Transportation Secretary Daniel Johnson said, adding that motorists should “play it safe and stay off the roads until conditions improve.”

Emergency-management officials framed the system primarily as a snow event but stressed the travel and cold-safety risks. “Most of the forecast is expected to be ‘primarily snow,’ it is important to remember that travel conditions may become treacherous and it is safest to stay home,” N.C. Emergency Management Director Will Ray said. Ray also noted that the emergency declaration provides access to federal resources should the state need them. Governor Stein urged residents to take precautions: “As another round of winter weather moves into North Carolina, this time possibly bringing snow, I urge everyone to stay alert and take precautions.” He praised interagency crews’ sustained work and emphasized cooperation with federal partners. “They’re ready to saddle up and do it again,” Stein said of federal teams.

Local impacts will vary. Buncombe County is explicitly included in the warning window, and nearby jurisdictions have already taken steps such as declaring local emergencies and closing county facilities for the period expected to have the worst conditions. The recent back-to-back storms have strained local operations; officials say the state will assess costs from last weekend’s ice storm and consider seeking additional federal funding for harder-hit areas.

There is a discrepancy in public notices: a health-plan advisory referenced a State of Emergency dated Jan. 21, while state briefings and the governor’s office identify a separate declaration issued Jan. 29. These appear to be distinct actions; residents seeking precise legal effective dates and scope should consult the governor’s executive orders and local emergency-management offices.

What it means for Buncombe County readers: prepare for short-term power outages, treat bridges and overpasses as hazardous, delay travel if possible, check official National Weather Service alerts and county emergency updates, and expect extended cold and cleanup operations after the snow. State and local agencies will continue to brief the public as conditions evolve.