Winter Weather

Brunswick Partnership for Housing 

• Assisting couples, those with children, and disabled women (those unable to navigate the stairs at CRCI)
• Contact: 910.946.1499

Christian Recovery Centers, Inc. (CRCI)

• Assisting individual males, individual females, and families
• Contact: 910.287.4357 
• Shelter for families and individuals 18 years and older who are experiencing homelessness or living without heat and/or hot water.

Download CRCI Warming Facilities Flyer (PNG)

• Register for the ReadyBrunswick emergency notification system at ReadyBrunswickCountyNC.gov
• Remain alert for updates from the U.S. National Weather Service Forecast Office in Wilmington, NC (NWS-Wilmington) at weather.gov/ilm. You can find the latest weather briefing at weather.gov/ilm/briefing and winter weather information at weather.gov/ilm/winter.
• Have multiple ways to get weather information (local news and radio stations, NOAA weather radios, National Weather Service, emergency alert notifications, etc.)
• Know how to report power outages and downed electrical lines to your electric provider. Visit their websites to learn how to report these hazards to Duke Energy Progress or Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (BEMC).

Most deaths that occur during winter storms are not a direct result of the weather. Instead, people die from home fires and carbon monoxide poisoning while using alternate ways to heat or power their home. Take time to safeguard your home against these dangers and ensure the well-being of your family, pets, and property.

• Check your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. The Brunswick County Fire Marshal’s Office offers a Free Smoke Alarm Installation Program and a Free Carbon Monoxide Detector Installation Program to Brunswick County employees, residents, and property owners. Visit the Community Risk Reduction webpage to learn more.
• Always plug space heaters directly into wall outlets, and make sure the cords and plugs aren’t damaged or frayed. DON’T use an extension cord or power strip.
• Place space heaters on a solid, flat surface and keep them at least three feet from other items. Turn them off when leaving the room or sleeping.
• NEVER use a stove, oven, or charcoal grill to heat your home.
• Operate generators outdoors, away from doors and windows to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Keep all heat sources—including fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, portable heaters, or candles—at least three feet away from anything that can burn.
• Inspect holiday lights each year before you use them. Throw away light strands with frayed or pinched wires. Turn off all holiday lights before going to bed or leaving your home.
• Water natural Christmas trees daily or keep their tree stands filled with water. Get rid of the tree if it dries out.
• Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected each year by a professional.

If you experience a power outage or see downed electrical lines, report it to your electric provider. Remember that electric crews will have to wait for safe conditions to begin restoring power.

Electric Providers

• Duke Energy Progress: Report at duke-energy.com/outages, text OUT to 57801, call 800.419.6356, or use the Duke Energy App.
  
  
• Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (BEMC): Report at bemc.org/report-power-outage, text OUTAGE to 800.682.5309, call 800.682.5309, or use the BEMC SmartHub App.

Your pipes are at risk of freezing any time temperatures drop below 32°F or 0°C. Prevent costly pipe damage this winter by taking precautions to protect household and irrigation water systems from freezing.

• Insulate pipes in unheated areas of your home and crawl spaces.
• Seal any gaps and cracks in your home’s exterior (such as crawl spaces) to prevent cold drafts from reaching your pipes.
• Disconnect water hoses from outdoor spigots and turn off irrigation systems.
• Open doors to cabinets below your sinks to help warmer air circulate around plumbing at night.
• Allow a small amount of water to drip from your faucets. Running water, even at a trickle, helps prevent pipes from freezing.
• Always be aware of the main water shut-off valve location for your home in case you should experience a burst pipe and need to turn off your water. Contact Brunswick County Public Utilities or your local water provider if you need assistance.

For more tips, visit our Public Utilities FAQs Winter Weather webpage.

Stay off roads and highways. Wait for road conditions to improve before driving.

Here’s are some places where you can check on road conditions:

• NCDOT Map (use January 31 Winter Weather Feature): DriveNC.gov map 
• Brunswick County Sheriff's Office social media and mobile app
• Check your town or city’s website and social media

View more winter weather driving safety tips from the N.C. Department of Public Safety and the N.C. Department of Transportation.

Here are some tips to keep your electric bill in check during winter weather:

• Cover and repair windows. Ensure windows are properly sealed and weatherized to help prevent heat from escaping and cold air from entering your home.
• Track your usage. Use your energy app or bill to track when your energy usage is spiking and adjust habits that may be driving it up.
• Lower water heating costs. Keep your water heater temperature to the warm setting (about 120°F) to save energy and help avoid scalding.
• Set your thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting. By adjusting your settings, even by a few degrees, you can save on your monthly bill.
• Maintain your heating system. Check furnace and heat pump filters regularly and replace them as needed. Schedule routine service for your home heating system.
• Contact your energy provider to see what energy saving programs or utility bill assistance programs are available.

View more winter energy-saving tips from the U.S. Department of Energy.