City of Raleigh prepares for potential flooding, power outages

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Triangle is under a tropical storm warning and level 1 risk for severe storms, including a medium risk of power outages. Raleigh city officials have crews to do their part to minimize hazards around construction sites and new developments.

Officials say now is the time to double down on safety – and that means properly securing materials and equipment that could pose dangers.

“Help them understand what we would expect for them to make their job site storm ready,” said Jason Ruff, the City of Raleigh’s assistant director of planning and development. “Things like barricades, sidewalk closures and road closures, if at all possible. We ask those to be minimized or prepared so that there’s no impediment to any emergency response vehicles.”

That also includes filling pot holes and open trenches on roads where utility work has been done.

Ruff says residents should also secure items around their property.

“Especially during high wind or rain that could make them become dislodged or get airborne and fly around,” he said. “Patio furniture, umbrellas and things like that.”

He says people should also prepare in case the power goes out.

“We never want to overlook things that we can do ahead of a storm like this and it helps in the aftermath if there are storm events such as wind damage and particularly flooding that we sometimes see in events like this,” said Ruff.

Raleigh leaders refers residents to their online site: Raleigh Ready Guide for Emergency Preparedness.