About Holly Springs, N.C.
Nestled among Apex, Cary and Fuquay-Varina, all towns experiencing growth from the heavily populated Raleigh and Research Triangle Park areas, Holly Springs is rapidly growing. The Town of less than 1,000 just two decades ago in 1990 has grown to more than 25,000. The growth in population of our area illustrates the importance of emergency planning and preparedness.
The Town of Holly Springs is prepared to respond to both man-made and natural disasters, including hurricanes, tornadoes, high winds, floods, ice and snow storms.
Inclement Weather
In addition to the Town's efforts, Wake County Emergency Management opens emergency shelters when citizens must evacuate homes for a natural disaster. The county also is ready to assist citizens during and after natural disasters. Following a natural disaster, Wake County Emergency Management will work with a network of representatives from state, local and federal agencies, in addition to church groups, the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army to provide an array of services for people affected by the disaster.
Holly Springs: Preparing for and Responding to Natural Disasters
In preparation for a natural disaster, the Town of Holly Springs Public Works Department has instated an Inclement Weather Response Plan that outlines how the Town prepares for, responds to and recovers from natural disasters. The end goal for the Town is to return Holly Springs to normal conditions in the shortest time possible. To reach that goal, the Town has two focuses:
Below are the measures the Town will take to meet these goals during various natural disasters.
Hurricanes
The Town begins preparing for hurricanes 72 hours prior to when a hurricane is forecasted to arrive in the Holly Springs area. During a hurricane, Town employees take refuge in the Holly Springs Public Works Department headquarters so that as soon as hurricane winds are subsiding at 40 knots or less, employees immediately can begin the recovery effort.
One primary effort the Town Public Works Department will undertake is removing fallen trees from roadways. Tree-clearing efforts begin along the highest priority roads – major Town thoroughfares. Once the main arteries of Holly Springs are clear, Town clean-up crews will begin clearing the main streets in subdivisions. Subsequently, smaller streets in subdivisions will be cleared. Town employees will work to remove fallen trees from the roadways, placing them off roads along rights of way. Depending on the scope of the damage, the Town may hire contractors to assist in clearing debris from roadways and removing the collected debris.
In the meantime immediately after a hurricane, other teams of Town employees will check water and sewer lines to ensure that these systems were not damaged by falling trees or debris during the hurricane. Employees will examine streets for flooding and also will report downed power lines and other private utility damage to the corresponding agencies. In addition, Town officials will assess damage to determine if Federal Emergency Management Act assistance should be requested.
Tornados
If a funnel cloud is sighted or if a funnel is in contact with ground, employees will be alerted by telephone and radio to ensure their safety. Immediately following the tornado, Public Works Department employees will work jointly with Public Safety employees to remove utility and roadway obstructions, such as fallen trees. Debris will be placed along rights of way to be collected at a later time. Town officials will assess damage to determine if Federal Emergency Management Act assistance should be requested.
Snow and Ice
While maintaining the Town's emergency response capabilities, the Public Works Department strives to secure a passable road network for citizens throughout snow and icing events.
Minor Events
When weather temperatures are 32 F or below and light precipitation is forecasted, teams of Public Works employees will treat bridges with a sand/salt mixture and will monitor intersections, historical problem areas and thoroughfares throughout Town, spreading the sand/salt mixture as needed.
Major Events
When weather temperatures are 32 F or below and medium to heavy precipitation is forecasted, Public Works employees will load dump trucks and inspect equipment before the storm. Also, before or at the beginning of precipitation, a sand/salt mixture will be spread on Town roadways.
As with any snow or ice removal, the mixture will be spread on bridges first, followed by Public Safety emergency response runways (such as fire station driveways), main thoroughfares, primary roads within subdivisions, and historic problem areas. The Town does not treat cul-de-sacs. During and after the storm, Town employees will work to treat icy or snowy roads using the sand/salt spreaders, graders and plows.
If equipment operators determine that conditions on a minor road are unsafe, or if they risk not being able to drive out after treating the road, drivers will not enter or treat the road. Streets with slopes greater than 7 percent present a great risk for the plowing equipment to become stuck or uncontrollably slide off the road.
As conditions allow, equipment operators (spreaders and plows) will make one pass per street in each travel direction. Depending on storm duration, graders will return into the subdivisions to treat all through streets.
Holly Springs Inclement Weather Response Plan
Public Works (919) 552-5920
The Town of Holly Springs is prepared to respond to both man-made and natural disasters, including hurricanes, tornadoes, high winds, floods, ice and snow storms.
Inclement Weather
In addition to the Town's efforts, Wake County Emergency Management opens emergency shelters when citizens must evacuate homes for a natural disaster. The county also is ready to assist citizens during and after natural disasters. Following a natural disaster, Wake County Emergency Management will work with a network of representatives from state, local and federal agencies, in addition to church groups, the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army to provide an array of services for people affected by the disaster.
Holly Springs: Preparing for and Responding to Natural Disasters
In preparation for a natural disaster, the Town of Holly Springs Public Works Department has instated an Inclement Weather Response Plan that outlines how the Town prepares for, responds to and recovers from natural disasters. The end goal for the Town is to return Holly Springs to normal conditions in the shortest time possible. To reach that goal, the Town has two focuses:
- Maintain the ability for Holly Springs Public Safety to respond to emergencies.
- Secure a passable road network for citizens.
Below are the measures the Town will take to meet these goals during various natural disasters.
Hurricanes
The Town begins preparing for hurricanes 72 hours prior to when a hurricane is forecasted to arrive in the Holly Springs area. During a hurricane, Town employees take refuge in the Holly Springs Public Works Department headquarters so that as soon as hurricane winds are subsiding at 40 knots or less, employees immediately can begin the recovery effort.
One primary effort the Town Public Works Department will undertake is removing fallen trees from roadways. Tree-clearing efforts begin along the highest priority roads – major Town thoroughfares. Once the main arteries of Holly Springs are clear, Town clean-up crews will begin clearing the main streets in subdivisions. Subsequently, smaller streets in subdivisions will be cleared. Town employees will work to remove fallen trees from the roadways, placing them off roads along rights of way. Depending on the scope of the damage, the Town may hire contractors to assist in clearing debris from roadways and removing the collected debris.
In the meantime immediately after a hurricane, other teams of Town employees will check water and sewer lines to ensure that these systems were not damaged by falling trees or debris during the hurricane. Employees will examine streets for flooding and also will report downed power lines and other private utility damage to the corresponding agencies. In addition, Town officials will assess damage to determine if Federal Emergency Management Act assistance should be requested.
Tornados
If a funnel cloud is sighted or if a funnel is in contact with ground, employees will be alerted by telephone and radio to ensure their safety. Immediately following the tornado, Public Works Department employees will work jointly with Public Safety employees to remove utility and roadway obstructions, such as fallen trees. Debris will be placed along rights of way to be collected at a later time. Town officials will assess damage to determine if Federal Emergency Management Act assistance should be requested.
Snow and Ice
While maintaining the Town's emergency response capabilities, the Public Works Department strives to secure a passable road network for citizens throughout snow and icing events.
Minor Events
When weather temperatures are 32 F or below and light precipitation is forecasted, teams of Public Works employees will treat bridges with a sand/salt mixture and will monitor intersections, historical problem areas and thoroughfares throughout Town, spreading the sand/salt mixture as needed.
Major Events
When weather temperatures are 32 F or below and medium to heavy precipitation is forecasted, Public Works employees will load dump trucks and inspect equipment before the storm. Also, before or at the beginning of precipitation, a sand/salt mixture will be spread on Town roadways.
As with any snow or ice removal, the mixture will be spread on bridges first, followed by Public Safety emergency response runways (such as fire station driveways), main thoroughfares, primary roads within subdivisions, and historic problem areas. The Town does not treat cul-de-sacs. During and after the storm, Town employees will work to treat icy or snowy roads using the sand/salt spreaders, graders and plows.
If equipment operators determine that conditions on a minor road are unsafe, or if they risk not being able to drive out after treating the road, drivers will not enter or treat the road. Streets with slopes greater than 7 percent present a great risk for the plowing equipment to become stuck or uncontrollably slide off the road.
As conditions allow, equipment operators (spreaders and plows) will make one pass per street in each travel direction. Depending on storm duration, graders will return into the subdivisions to treat all through streets.
Holly Springs Inclement Weather Response Plan
Public Works (919) 552-5920
Town of Holly Springs • P.O. Box 8 • 128 South Main St. • Holly Springs, NC 27540 • (919) 552-6221