NC prepares for damaging winds, power outages and downed trees on Tuesday

The seriousness of Tuesday's storm has school districts, utility companies, emergency management and state leaders all bracing for the potential impact.

The Triangle will be under a Level 2 risk on Tuesday, when severe storms are likely to begin in the Triangle around 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. The severe potential will be greater south and east of the Triangle, where multiple WRAL counties are under a Level 3 risk, including Cumberland and Harnett.

Those southeastern counties will be most likely to see power outages and severe storms on Tuesday in the evening hours, but damaging winds and heavy rain will also put the Triangle at risk.

Governor Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency for the state ahead of the storm.

"This storm system has the potential to bring high winds and other dangerous storm conditions to North Carolina, and people should be aware and take precautions," Governor Cooper said. "Be sure your emergency kits are up to date and pay attention to the weather in your area, especially any weather alerts such as flash flood warnings."

Duke Energy spokesperson Jeff Brooks said the impacts on Tuesday will be so widespread that crews will be spread out.

"The challenge with a storm like this is it’s really everywhere, so you can’t move a large number of crews from one place to another without putting at risk the communities they came from," Brooks explained.

Over the next 24 hours, Brooks said crews will be stocking up on supplies and equipment as Duke Energy's meteorologists monitor the oncoming storm.

"A lot of the work right now is to just finish up the things we need to get out of the way so we can clear our plate for the storm on Tuesday," Brooks said.

The Triangle and many surrounding counties are under both a wind advisory and flood watch Tuesday.

Brooks said the high winds combined with heavy rain will be a major concern, causing the potential for outages and downed power lines and trees across the state.

"The combination that's most problematic is when you have a large amount of rain followed by high winds," said Brooks. "That can create a situation where you begin to see trees that get uprooted [and] can come down on power lines."

Duke Energy has been working to upgrade poles and power lines in recent years to make them stronger and more resistant to severe weather. The work is ongoing, but officials said those benefits are already beginning to deliver.

Duke Energy told WRAL News the additions include a new tool that can automatically detect a power outage and reroute power to other lines to restore service faster.

Brooks called it a game-changer for responding to major storms.

The City of Fayetteville on Tuesday asked residents to take the following steps to prepare for the storm:

The city is encouraging residents to remove any debris that could potentially block street storm drains to help prevent minor road flooding.

"Leaves, pine straw and other debris around storm drains will prevent proper water flow," the city said in a press release. "By taking a few moments to inspect and clear these drains, residents can significantly contribute to flood prevention and safeguard their neighborhoods during heavy rain."

Residents are also encouraged to securely store their solid waste and recycling rollout carts away from the road to avoid any damage. This precaution should be taken after collections have been made. The city said olid waste and recycling are scheduled for normal pickup.

Duke Energy has thousands of line and tree workers in the Carolinas, including many in the Triangle who work long hours to stay ahead of major weather events.

Crews with Brother Bear Tree Service were working to clear trees at multiple homes, including the home of Marcus Bryan.

"They were leaning on the roof and [we] wanted to get it before it got too heavy and continue to lay on the roof," he said.

Tree experts say it's not just the leaning trees that are dangerous during severe weather.

"Branches can shatter and it can be a problem for a homeowner, and a risk for damage," Jesus Guzman with Brother Bear Tree Service.

Duke Energy they also assist with tree trimming in order to protect their power grids.

"We do trim trees year-round," a Duke Energy spokesperson said. "We do a lot of work to keep clearances around our power lines so that we can cut down on the number of outages we experienced during storms. That's part of our grid-strengthening activities."

Brooks said recent heavy rain from the last few weeks could make trees topple over as well.

"You've got heavy rain, on top of already an inch-plus of rain here in the Triangle. Then, when you add more to it and add those gusts of 30-40 mph, that's a perfect recipe for bringing down large trees, damaging powerlines, power poles and can make for a lengthy restoration," he explained.

Those reasons are why Bryan got his trees trimmed, and he says it's already helping him feel better.

"I will sleep great," he said.