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By Robert Sullivan

RALEIGH — The governor’s office has declared a state of emergency for the entire state ahead of a forecasted cold snap that will affect Clemmons and the surrounding area beginning Wednesday morning and continuing into Thursday morning.

“During winter weather, just like any severe weather situation in our state, the number one priority of the state of North Carolina is keeping our people safe,” said Governor Josh Stein during a press conference on Tuesday morning.

The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory stating that the Forsyth County area should expect temperatures in the teens with wind chills in the single digits. The advisory also stated that the area may receive 1 to 2 inches of snow and sleet with up to 3 inches possible, along with ice accumulations around a light glaze.

“Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Plan on slippery road conditions. These hazardous conditions could impact the Wednesday evening commute,” reads the impact portion of the advisory.

After the emergency declaration, Attorney General Jeff Jackson also issued a press release reminding North Carolinians that the state’s price gouging laws go into effect during a state of emergency.

“As the winter weather rolls in this week, stay safe and watch out for scammers trying to take advantage of consumers by jacking up their prices. If you think a business might be raising costs unlawfully, don’t hesitate to reach out to my office to file a complaint. We’ll look into it and take action to hold price gougers accountable,” Jackson is quoted as saying in the release.

According to the Department of Public Safety’s website, declaring a State of Emergency will:

• Enable government officials to take extra measures to protect the public.
• Trigger anti-price gouging laws.
• Allow local governments to seek state or federal funding aid for disaster response if it is warranted.