With extremely low temperatures in the forecast, the City of Hendersonville reminds the community of ways to stay safe this holiday weekend. 

If the forecast holds true, the City is anticipating favorable conditions for black ice on the roads Friday morning. Public Works crews will be on standby to react to issues if they form, but motorists are encouraged to drive with caution if they must travel on Friday. Rain in the forecast followed by cold temperatures limits the crew’s ability to pretreat the roads as brine would be washed away before ice-causing conditions occur. 

The Hendersonville Police Department offers the following tips to keep drivers safe: 

• If you do not have to be out on the roads in icy conditions or when black ice is possible – don’t! 
• Consider delaying your trip until Public Works and NCDOT crews have had additional time to care for the roads. 
• Allow extra time for your trip and decrease speeds.  
• Leave plenty of space between your car and other cars on the road. 
• Be aware that black ice can occur sporadically, so drive cautiously even if you do not initially see icy roads. 

If you must be out on the roads and encounter black ice:  

• As soon as your car begins to slide, take your foot off the gas pedal. 
• Resist the urge to slam on the brakes. Ease up on the gas and calmly tap the brakes to slow down. 
• Look for trouble spots ahead and aim for areas of traction.  
• If your car begins to skid on the ice, turn the wheel in the direction of the skid.  

With frigid, extended temperatures predicted, the Hendersonville Fire Department encourages the community to take extra precautions when heating their homes: 

• Improper disposal of hot coals or ashes from fireplaces, wood stoves, and mobile fire pits has the potential to start home or brush fires. To properly dispose of ashes or coals, HFD recommends: 
  • Do not remove hot ashes from the fireplace immediately. Allow ashes and coals to cool completely in the fireplace before removing them. 
  • When it is time to dispose of the ashes, transfer them to a tightly covered metal container and wet them down.         
  • Keep the metal container outside the home and away from combustible material. 
  • Do not place any other combustibles in the metal container. 
  • Never empty ashes directly into a trash can.  
• Chimneys should be inspected annually and cleaned as needed. 
• Make sure the area around fireplaces is clear of all combustibles and use fireplace screens to keep sparks and debris inside fireplaces. 
• Do not use accelerants to start a fire. 
• Ensure the fire is completely out before going to bed or leaving the house. 
• Make sure smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly. 

The City of Hendersonville government offices will be closed for the holiday on December 23, 26, and 27. No garbage, recycling, brush, or leaf collections will take place on Friday, December 23rd, Monday, December 26th, or Tuesday, December 27th for City of Hendersonville customers. Collection for customers will be delayed by one week. Collection for customers impacted by the holiday closures will resume Friday, December 30th, Monday, January 2nd, and Tuesday, January 3rd, respectively. Any extra bagged garbage for those customers will be picked up when collection resumes.  

For any Hendersonville Water & Sewer infrastructure issues occurring over the holidays, please use the after-hours number at (828) 891-7779.