With the likelihood of downed trees and power lines, travel could be hazardous in some areas.
If you should lose power, please do not call 911 to report it. This is not an emergency and your call could prevent someone with a true emergency from getting through.
Duke Energy District Manager Tanya Evans wrote in an information release that 
- Text OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges may apply).
- Visit duke-energy.com on a desktop computer or mobile device.
- Use the Duke Energy mobile app – Download the Duke Energy App from a smartphone via Apple Store or Google Play.
- Call the automated outage-reporting system: Duke Energy Progress: 1-800-419-6356; Duke Energy Carolinas: 1-800-POWERON (1-800-769-3766)
Click here for more from Duke Energy.
Remember to check on your elderly neighbors, friends and family both before and after the storm to make sure they have what they need. Remember your pets and bring them indoors if possible or at least make sure they are safe outside.
When the storm is over, be careful when venturing outside particularly in areas that receive damage as unseen hazards could be present.