North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is strongly urging residents to stay off the road as a massive winter storm blankets parts of the Southeast with snow and ice.
Cooper said at a news conference Sunday that emergency crews, including the National Guard, had worked overnight to clear traffic accidents on major interstates. Cooper said one tractor-trailer ran off a road and into a river.
Since midnight the North Carolina State Highway Patrol has responded to 509 crashes and 1,100 calls for service.
In Durham, police responded to more than 20 weather-related crashes between 6 a.m. and 1 p.m. Also, officers have responded to more than 25 calls in Durham to assist stranded motorists.
Already, NC DOT crews have used more than 13,000 tons of salt and 1,600 tons of a salt and sand mixture to clear roads.
Cooper told residents to stay at home and wrap holiday presents and watch football while the snow falls Sunday.
“Stay put if you can,” he said.
Cooper said more than 175,000 North Carolina households were without power and utilities had brought in 1,500 out-of-state workers to help restore service.
He said that 11 shelters are open, mainly in western North Carolina, for people needing a place to stay.
