ASHEBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — The snow started to fall around 1:30 p.m. on Friday, but the City of Asheboro has been preparing all week.
The city public works department is fully staffed and ready to begin 12-hour shifts to keep the roads safe and clear.
On Wednesday, crews started to put down the salt brine on the roads. The trucks have the plows up front and the salt in the back, and the tires have chains on them.
Since the last snowstorm was three years ago, some crew members had never done this before, so they also spent the week pairing the experienced team members with the new staff.
“We’ve got some folks this will be a training for them because we have had some turnover in the past few years … but we have got enough with experience to do the training, so we should be in good shape,” City of Asheboro Public Works Director David Hutchins said.
In addition to the snow in Asheboro, they might get some ice accumulation. If they do, salt and time will be the key. They will put as much down as they can, wait for it to slush up and then plow it off the roads.
While most people plan to stay home while the snow falls, not everyone has a place to go. The Asheboro community has rallied together to provide a warm space for their unhoused neighbors to stay overnight.
Earlier this week, there was no warming center. It started with a request to use the space, the owners agreed then volunteers joined the effort, and countless other donated supplies.
“It is extremely cold out there … That could very easily be anyone of us … When you have an opportunity to help, just do it,” President of the GWCCEC Clyde Foust said.
The inside has been transformed into a temporary shelter for men, women and families. When they get there, they sign in and get a hot meal, some hot chocolate and other supplies to keep them warm.
“We thank the community for stepping up … It has a lot of space, and it is good and warm, and people can get a hot meal. They can sit and talk … with the volunteers and everybody that comes around,” Founder of Grace Given Kenita Matthews-White said.
Thursday night was the first night, and they had six people show up. As word spreads, they expect more people each night.
