SAFE Infant Feeding

10/11/2026

SAFE Team members, Brandi Harrison, Jayne Carpenter, and Love Anderson attended the 2026 Appalachian Breastfeeding Network Conference. They were honored to speak about how to bridge the gap in infant and young child feeding in emergencies.

10/10/2026

10/10/2026

Know the Hazard Before It Happens!

Rainfall of more than five inches in similar storms has been associated with an increased risk of landslides and rockslides.

If you live or work on a mountainside or in a cove at the base of a mountain, especially near a steam, be ready to leave as quickly as possible should rising water, moving earth or rocks threaten.


Sign up for local alerts, stay alert, and take steps now to be prepared for landslides.


Visit ReadyNC.gov for more information on landslide preparedness.

10/10/2026

A FLOOD WATCH has been issued for Haywood County

Haywood County Emergency Services is closely monitoring the weather. The Outdoor Flood Alert Siren system is ready if needed. If significant flooding occurs, here is what you need to know:

* Sirens will sound if flooding is observed by a first responder or if the National Weather Service issues its highest level of Flash Flood Warning.
* The sirens make a distinctive HI-LO sound, which will be followed by a spoken message instructing you to evacuate.
* If the flood siren is activated, the tones and messages will cycle on repeat for 5 minutes.
* Any siren activation will also include an emergency alert sent to your phone, which may include additional instructions.
* Don’t wait for the phone message, though. If you hear the siren, evacuate IMMEDIATELY.
* Do not hesitate. Take loved ones, including pets; take your phone, and if it’s handy, take your emergency kit and leave on foot.
* Do NOT get in a vehicle to evacuate.
* If the siren is activated, it is too late to safely leave by car.
*Climb to higher ground and stay there until flood water recedes or until help arrives.
* The sirens are a last-resort warning. Pay close attention to the weather. Evacuate early if you feel more comfortable doing so.
Visit ReadyHaywood.com to hear an example of the siren tone.

10/10/2026

Heads Up: Unfortunately, as we discussed today, the National Weather Service is now warning of an increasing potential for landslides and rockslides across parts of the mountains, particularly near the Blue Ridge Escarpment and the southeast-facing slopes of the Balsam and Black Mountains.

I'm sharing a Public Information Statement they just asked us to share.

Be Informed- have multiple ways to receive alerts, especially overnight Saturday into Sunday. Enable emergency alerts on your cell phone and sign up for local emergency alerts from your emergency management office.

Have a Plan- know where you will go to seek higher ground in flood-prone areas or if you need to take shelter for severe weather.

-Ethan

10/10/2026

⚠️ Friday Evening Tropical Weather Update ⚠️

💨 Strong winds and tropically enhanced rainfall is forecast to impact NC over the weekend.

❗ The greatest rainfall is forecast across portions of the mountains, where numerous flash floods are likely Saturday and Saturday night.

🌧 Widespread rainfall totals of 2-4” are forecast across much of the mountains, with southeast facing slopes and portions of the Blue Ridge Escarpment possibly accumulating 4-6” of rainfall through Sunday morning. Locally higher amounts of 8”+ cannot be ruled out for these areas.

With periods of moderate to heavy rainfall forecast for portions of the NC mountains, the threat of isolated landslides and debris flows will increase for areas across the southern mountains and Blue Ridge Escarpment. Especially during the heaviest rainfall Saturday evening into Sunday morning where rainfall rates have the best chance to reach 5” over 24 hours.

Rainfall amounts of 2-4” remain possible across portions of eastern NC through Sunday. Locally higher amounts of 6”+ are possible where heavy rain bands continue to develop over the same areas and especially along the coast.

Elsewhere across the Piedmont and western Coastal Plain, widespread accumulations of 1-2” are forecast with areas of locally higher amounts possible.

🚨 North Carolinians should:

1. Be Informed- have multiple ways to receive alerts, especially overnight Saturday into Sunday. Follow reputable sources of information like the National Weather Service, local media outlets, and local emergency management offices.

2. Have a Plan- know where you will go to seek higher ground in flood prone areas or if you need to take shelter for severe weather.

📍 For the full Friday P.M. Tropical Weather Update, visit ReadyNC.Gov/Weather

📍 For the latest preparedness information, visit ReadyNC.Gov/Isaias

10/10/2026

Heads up WNC

Have a plan, stay aware, keep up with local weather reports and emergency alerts

Heads Up: Unfortunately, as we discussed today, the National Weather Service is now warning of an increasing potential for landslides and rockslides across parts of the mountains, particularly near the Blue Ridge Escarpment and the southeast-facing slopes of the Balsam and Black Mountains.

I'm sharing a Public Information Statement they just asked us to share.

Be Informed- have multiple ways to receive alerts, especially overnight Saturday into Sunday. Enable emergency alerts on your cell phone and sign up for local emergency alerts from your emergency management office.

Have a Plan- know where you will go to seek higher ground in flood-prone areas or if you need to take shelter for severe weather.

-Ethan

10/08/2026

If you’re concerned about power outages and losing your freezer stash, here are some tips to keep your milk cold for as long as possible:

✅ Turn your freezer down to the coldest setting

✅ Fill empty space. Freezing additional bottles of water is a great way to do this, but even crumpled up paper will fill space and help keep everything insulated.

✅ Move milk to the back of the freezer where it’s coldest.

✅ Open the freezer as little as possible. Ideally not at all.

✅ Freeze a small cup of water and place a coin on top of the ice. If the freezer warms enough to thaw the water, you’ll know your milk has likely also thawed.

✅Use milk within 24-48 hours after thawing.