The town issues emergency notifications through OC Alerts, Orange County's mass notification system. The system uses the Everbridge platform and is a partnership of the governments in Orange County.

Community members can choose to receive messages through voice or text communication methods.

Under the Community Alerts section of the registration process, select Hillsborough water and sewer alerts. Orange Water and Sewer Authority provides service to the Carrboro-Chapel Hill area.

Sign Up for OC Alerts

• Town of Hillsborough ― 919-732-1270 and Contact Us page.
• Orange County ― 919-732-8181
• Orange County Public Schools ― 919-732-8126
• Durham Technical Community College Orange County Campus ― 919-536-7238
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ― 919-843-1234 or 919-962-2211

• For downed trees and other debris in a roadway, ensure you are in a safe location, and then call 911.
• For downed trees on private property, contact the primary insurer of the property, and then contact a private debris removal company.
• Report non-emergency storm damage to Orange County.

Flooding

• Report flooding by calling 911.

Communications Outages

• Brightspeed — Call 833-692-7773.
• Frontier — Call 800-921-8106.
• Spectrum — Call 833-267-6094.

Energy Outages

• Dominion Energy — Call 877-776-2427. Dominion does not take online reports.

• Duke Energy — Call 800-POWER-ON (800-769-3766) for English or 866-4-APAGON (866-427-2466) for Spanish, download the Duke Energy App from the Apple Store or Google Play using your smartphone, or view the Duke Energy outage maps. Register to receive text notifications for power outages in the area by texting REG to 57801. To report an outage, text OUT. For outage updates, text STATUS.

• Piedmont Electric — Call 800-449-2667 or 800-222-3107. Register to receive text notifications for power outages in the area by texting PEMC to 800-222-3107. To report an outage, text #OUT. For outage updates, text #STATUS.

Weather conditions sometimes prevent residential curbside services. The town communicates weather-related changes to town services through:

• Website — Emergency notifications are shared in an alert banner across the top of the website.
• Email — Subscribe to news releases.
• Social media — @HillsboroughGov

For changes to county-provided services, check Orange County’s page on weather delays and closings.

Federal and state government agencies offer online disaster information:

• The U.S. Department of Homeland Security offers information on emergency planning and preparation, including disaster plans for families, the elderly and pets.
  • Ready.gov website (English)
  • Ready.gov website (Español)
• The N.C. Department of Public Safety offers additional information on these topics.

See the subsections below for additional information:

Build a Kit

When an emergency happens, your family may be without power or access to grocery stores, running water or other day-to-day necessities. The best way to prepare for this possibility is to build a family emergency kit.

• Buy a Red Cross Emergency Preparedness Kit
• FEMA's Recommended Kit
• ReadyNC's Recommended Kit
• Building an Emergency Supply Kit for Your Car

Make a Plan

Your family may be split up when disaster strikes or split up as a result. The best way to ensure contact is to make a plan for how you will check in and get back together. See FEMA's Guide to Making a Plan.

Get Involved

There are many ways to become better prepared for an emergency response.

• Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs)
• The Red Cross - Volunteer Opportunities

Stay Informed

Store a battery-powered radio or a radio that can be powered with a generator. News is available from several area stations:

• La Ley (101.1 FM)
• WCHL (97.9 FM)
• WDCG (105.1 FM)
• WHUP (104.7 FM)
• WPTF (680 AM)
• WRAL (101.5 FM)
• WUNC (91.5 FM)

Severe Storms

Several government agencies offer online disaster information:

• Weather conditions and forecasts — National Weather Service
• Food safety after power outages — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Disaster response — American Red Cross (English) or American Red Cross (Español)

Flooding

The following high-traffic roads roads frequently experience flooding during heavy rains:

Town Roads

• Eno Street between:
  • West Hill Avenue and Murray Street
  • South Bellvue Street and Dimmocks Mill Road
• Faribault Lane
• East Queen Street between North Cameron and Mitchell streets
• East Tryon Street between North Cameron and North Churton streets
• North Wake Street between West Tryon and West Queen streets

State Roads

• Churton Street at the intersection with:
  • Daniel Boone Street
  • Orange Grove Road
  • West Tryon Street
• Orange Grove Road at the Exchange Club Lane intersection
• North Nash Street between Hayes and West Corbin streets

Additional Town Resources

See the documents below for additional information from the town.

• Storm Operations
• Storm Preparations

Orange County officials work with the Orange County Chapter of the American Red Cross to open emergency shelters in two primary locations:

• Orange Middle School, 308 Orange High School Road, Hillsborough
• Smith Middle School, 9201 Seawell School Road, Chapel Hill

Before and During Shelter Openings

Shelters require residents to be as informed and prepared as possible.

• If you will need special assistance, call 919-245-2884 to register for assistance before a disaster strikes.
• For emergency transportation, call 919-245-6100.
• Shelter locations may change depending on the emergency.
• Listen to the radio for directions concerning shelter openings.
• Shelters will have food and water but will not have easy access to medications or other personal needs.
• Smoking is not allowed in shelters.

Bring

• Photo identification
• Regularly taken medications
• Insurance information
• Bedding
• Towels
• Comfortable clothing
• Personal radios with headphones
• Games, reading material or other things to pass the time — especially for children
• Specialty items for your personal needs

Do Not Bring

• Weapons
• Illegal drugs
• Candles
• Valuables

Forming a plan for your pets is the best way to make sure they remain safe during severe weather. See the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' website for information on disaster planning with pets.

Orange County has the following regulations for animals at shelters:

• Service animals for the hearing and visually impaired will be allowed in shelters.
• Orange County Animal Services staff will be on hand to board pets in the best manner possible.
• Owners of large animals and livestock should make preparations for their animals. Very limited support for these animals will be provided in a disaster.