Mortgage Broker in Onslow, NC

Onslow County is under multiple weather advisories as the area is predicted to receive anywhere from 6 to 10 inches of snow, bitter cold temperatures and high wind gusts.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for Onslow County starting 10 p.m. Friday and until Sunday at 4 p.m. A cold weather advisory is in effect from Saturday at 1 a.m. until Sunday at 1 a.m.

An extreme cold watch will also be in effect Sunday from 1 a.m. to Monday at 10 a.m.

Residents, local government officials, first responders and the N.C. Department of Transportation have worked through the last several days to prepare for the storm to ensure area residents remain safe.

The city of Jacksonville has a 90% chance of receiving more than 4 inches of snow, with snowfall predicted to exceed 1 to 2 inches per hour during the peak of the storm, according to the National Weather Service in Morehead City.

Jacksonville also has a 66% chance of receiving more than 8 inches of snow and a 44% chance of localized blizzard conditions.

Erik Heden, a meteorologist with the NWS, said snow could begin as early as Saturday morning before the sun rises and could be intermittent throughout the day. Snowfall is expected to increase in intensity Saturday evening into Sunday morning.

“Really anyone (in eastern North Carolina) can have that possibility of a foot-and-a-half of snow,” he said. “The most likely at this point, very conservative, would be in that 6 to 10-inch range.”

By Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service predicted upwards of 10.9 inches of snow through Sunday in the Jacksonville area.

Wind chills could drop as low as 4 degrees below zero early Sunday morning and as low as 1 degree below zero early Monday morning. The storm will also bring strong winds, with the city predicted to see gusts up to 37 miles per hour, the NWS reports.

Of particular concern are the continued cold temperatures through next week that could cause snow and ice to stick around.

“If we get these snowfall amounts that we’re forecasting, with cold weather, it’s going to last a long time next week,” Heden said. “So, while the falling snow is this weekend, we really want to let people know that it’s going to be a while until we get rid of the snow on the roadways.”

Impacts of the storm could include dangerous or impossible driving conditions, widespread closures and disruptions to infrastructure, including the loss of electricity.

N.C. Department of Transportation trucks were already out adding brine to area roads Thursday morning and the Onslow Water and Sewer Authority is also preparing for the storm. Brine, a liquid mixture of salt and water, is applied to roadways for anti-icing before a storm.

ONWASA officials said Thursday that crews are closely monitoring weather conditions, protecting critical infrastructure, preparing backup power systems and ensuring staff and resources are ready to safely respond when needed.

“Our crews have already been operating in freezing conditions and are continuing preparations for the possibility of winter weather this weekend,” said Franky Howard, chief executive officer of ONWASA.

“We ask customers to take a few simple steps now to help prevent plumbing issues during this extended cold period.”

Ways residents can protect their plumbing include insulating exposed pipes, disconnecting and draining outdoor hoses, protecting exterior faucets, sealing air leaks around doors and windows, allowing faucets to drip slightly to keep water moving, and opening cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm air to circulate.

ONWASA also encourages residents to locate their main water shutoff valve in case a pipe freezes or bursts.

Customers who experience a water emergency or observe a water main break should contact ONWASA at 910-455-0722.

Veronica Newsome, public information officer for DOT Divisions 2 and 3, said roads were being pre-treated Thursday, starting with primary routes, major interstates and highways before moving to high-traffic secondary routes.

“We are planning to switch to salt spreaders (Friday), and then Friday night into Saturday morning, we’ll start our 12-hour, around-the-clock shifts where our crews will be monitoring and ready to respond as soon as the weather hits,” Newsome said.

Brine stops working in under 20-degree temperatures, so that’s why crews will have to switch to salt, she said.

The most important thing for residents to know is they should stay off the roads as much as possible, she said. Driving on fresh snow will pack it down and make it harder for crews to clear it.

“Snow is easy to push out of the way when it’s light and fluffy,” Newsome said. “We get the plows out, we can push it up as long as there’s no ice, but if people are driving on the snow, the snow starts to turn to ice, it melts a little bit under the cars and then it re-freezes, and it becomes way harder to clear.”

Officials weren’t the only people out preparing the community for the impending storm, as area residents were also out Thursday morning shopping for essentials.

Richlands resident Elizabeth Rust was stocking up on water and snacks at Aldi on Yopp Road in Jacksonville.

“I’m not really worried about much,” she said. “We live out in the middle of nowhere, so we’re pretty self-sufficient. I have three dogs and my 4-year-old, so I’m excited to see them in the snow. I love how quiet it gets when it snows, so definitely that, as well.”

Rust said she wouldn’t mind being snowed in so she can enjoy some much-needed rest. She said post-holidays has been crazy, as her anniversary, dad’s birthday and husband’s birthday all fall in January.

“Everybody stay safe,” she said. “That’s all I’m doing, (staying) safe and (watching) Netflix.”

Onslow County Senior Services is also working to help make sure people stay safe.

Kevin Reopelle, Onslow County public affairs manager, said senior services has a caterer that prepares meals that are delivered every weekday to homebound seniors in the community.

In anticipation of the weather, volunteers planned to deliver three extra meals Friday in the form of nonperishable goods so seniors can prepare in case volunteers are unable to deliver food early next week.

Onslow County Emergency Services also offers safety tips for residents ahead of the weekend weather.

On an episode of “Onslow County Today,” Stacie Miles, deputy director for Onslow County Emergency Services, said road safety is a top priority.

“We deal with a lot of car wrecks when we have icy roads or snowy roads,” she said. “So, a lot of what we think about in talking to the citizens for road safety is, leave early. If it takes you 30 minutes to get there, leave 45 minutes early.

“Give yourself some extra time so you can slow down. On the icy or snowy roads, the speed limit, it’s too fast.”

Miles suggests carrying around cat litter, sand or salt to use for traction in the event a motorist gets stuck or their vehicle slips off an icy road. She also said residents should carry blankets in their vehicles in case their vehicle breaks down.

Miles said preparing for snow is not all that different from preparing for a hurricane, which residents along the coast are more familiar with.

“You want to prepare to have food that doesn’t require you to necessarily cook it, in case we do have a power outage,” she said. “You want to get those big, thick blankets out and have them ready so you can bundle up if we lose power for a little bit.”

Miles also urged residents to be careful with portable generators. While they’re great to have, she said they should be run outside, away from garages, windows, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to ensure carbon monoxide doesn’t enter the home.

Reopelle said the county is in ongoing coordination with partners and neighboring counties to support preparation efforts. County leadership met Thursday to discuss the impending weather.

Spectrum Internet® With Speeds Up to 1 Gig Now Available to More Than 950 Homes and Small Businesses

Network Buildout is Part of Spectrum’s $7 Billion Rural Construction Initiative

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Spectrum, the #1 rural internet provider in the nation^*, today announced the launch of Spectrum Internet, Mobile, TV and Voice services to more than 950 homes and small businesses in Onslow County, North Carolina.

Spectrum’s multi-year rural construction initiative is driven by more than $7 billion in private investment from Spectrum and will ultimately add an additional 100,000+ miles of fiber-optic network infrastructure and deliver symmetrical and multi-gigabit speed internet access to more than 1.7 million new locations across the country.

“Spectrum is bringing gigabit broadband to unserved communities in North Carolina and across America,” said Tim Williams, Vice President of Construction at Spectrum. “Our investment is making it possible to deliver the high-value broadband, mobile, TV and voice services now available in Onslow County. We are providing local residents and small businesses superior connectivity at highly competitive prices, backed by a team of skilled local technicians and 100% U.S.-based customer service.”

Broadband Speeds up to 1 Gbps, Plus Money-Saving Mobile Options and 85,000 On Demand Choices

Spectrum Internet delivers speeds up to 1 Gbps and Advanced WiFi for residential and small business customers, featuring starting speeds of 500 Mbps, with no modem fees, data caps or contracts. Spectrum Business Internet offers customers 1 Gbps download speeds, with 500 Mbps and 750 Mbps options. The company has also begun a network evolution that will provide gigabit upstream speeds and multiple gigabit download speeds across its entire 41-state service area.

“Small businesses like mine require high-speed internet access to grow, connect with customers, and manage accounting, payroll, and so much more,” said state Sen. Michael Lazzara. “Spectrum’s RDOF investment in Onslow County brought fast broadband internet access to those who still did not have the speed or reliability they need to thrive.”

Spectrum Internet exceeded advertised download and upload speeds for all tiers measured — even during peak weeknight usage between 7 and 11 p.m. — according to the FCC’s most recent “Measuring Broadband America Fixed Broadband Report.”

Along with multiple broadband options, Spectrum services now available also include Spectrum Mobile^™ and Spectrum TV^®. Spectrum Mobile is the nation’s fastest-growing mobile provider^** and combines with Spectrum Internet and Advanced Home WiFi to provide seamless connectivity inside and outside the home. Spectrum Mobile provides customers access to nationwide 5G at great value, with Unlimited lines starting at $30 a month, as well as By the Gig options.

Spectrum TV offers more than 270 HD channels and access to 85,000 On Demand movies and shows. Using the Spectrum TV App — the highest-rated pay TV streaming app in the U.S.^*** — viewers can stream content across a growing number of platforms, including iOS and Android mobile devices, Xbox One, Kindle Fire, Samsung Smart TVs, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Roku, Xumo TVs and PCs.

Local residents and business owners should visit spectrumruralexpansion.com to learn more about when their home or business may be able to receive Spectrum services.

^* Based on December 2022 FCC Broadband Data Collection locations.

^** Based on 1Q 2024 subscriber data among top 3 carriers.

^*** iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play) average ratings as of July 1, 2024. Apps must have at least 150k reviews through combination of iOS & Android store reviews as of July 1, 2024.

About Spectrum

Spectrum is a suite of advanced communications services offered by Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR), a leading broadband connectivity company available to 58 million homes and small to large businesses across 41 states. Founded in 1993, Charter has evolved from providing cable TV to streaming, and from high-speed Internet to a converged broadband, WiFi and mobile experience. Over the Spectrum Fiber Broadband Network and supported by our 100% U.S.-based employees, the Company offers Seamless Connectivity and Entertainment with Spectrum Internet^®, Mobile, TV and Voice products.

More information can be found at corporate.charter.com.

Media Contact

Scott Pryzwansky, Scott.Pryzwansky@charter.com