Guilford County Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Weekend Winter Storm

A local state of emergency was declared in Guilford County to give Emergency Management and first responders time to prepare for a forecasted winter storm expected to bring significant snow and ice beginning the weekend of Jan. 24. The declaration, effective 12:00 p.m. on Jan. 22, 2026, aims to streamline response operations and improve coordination across municipal governments.

Guilford County Emergency Management said the declaration allows teams to reposition supplies and equipment ahead of the storm and gives municipalities the option to coordinate under the County’s Emergency Operations Plan. Those measures are intended to speed resource allocation and simplify logistical decisions during the storm and the immediate post-storm clearing period.

For residents, the practical implications are immediate. The county urged Limiting travel during the storm and the post-storm clearing period to reduce strain on emergency crews and decrease the number of weather-related incidents. The county also urged residents to sign up for GEANI alerts at ReadyGuilford.org and to follow Guilford County social media channels for real-time updates on road conditions, closures, and recovery efforts.

First responders and public works crews will use the extra lead time to stage salt, sand, and snow removal equipment at strategic locations across the county. The declaration standardizes authority and coordination options for municipal partners that choose to operate under the countywide plan, which can speed mutual aid deployment and consolidate incident command functions. That institutional alignment is aimed at reducing delays in restoring safe travel and municipal services after the storm.

The emergency declaration also carries policy implications for local governance. By invoking the Emergency Operations Plan, Guilford County opens pathways for unified decision-making between county and municipal officials, which can affect how crews are prioritized, how funding and supplies are distributed, and how public messaging is synchronized. Residents should monitor county communications for specific instructions on sheltering, utility outages, and route priorities for snow removal.

Contact information for the county communications manager was included in the county release for media and public inquiries. Guilford County will issue further updates as conditions develop; residents should rely on GEANI alerts and the county’s official social channels for verified information. Preparing vehicles and homes, avoiding nonessential travel, and staying plugged into county alerts will help households weather the storm and speed recovery across Guilford County.