Car accidents in North Carolina happen suddenly, often catching the safest and most prepared drivers off guard. In the blink of an eye, a routine trip home from work on the busiest interstate highway near Durham, NC, can turn into a life-changing situation. Before you know it, you’re seriously hurt and wondering how you’ll provide for your family.
Dealing with the aftermath of a car crash is a lot to handle, especially when you’re injured due to no fault of your own. Figuring out who will foot the bill for your medical expenses and monthly bills only adds to the stress. You’re left trying to answer questions like, “What happens next, now that I’m injured?” “Am I going to get fired because I can’t go to work?” “How will I pay for my hospital bills?”
Often, auto accident victims can’t handle their responsibilities when they’re hurt or recovering in the largest hospital in Durham, NC. Without a personal injury attorney in Durham, NC, to advocate on their behalf, these same victims give official statements to law enforcement and insurance companies by mistake. As a result, many men and women hurt in car crashes accept very low settlement offers without understanding that they deserve more.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car wreck due to someone else’s negligence, you're probably wondering if there's a legal way to ease your suffering. At Nagle & Associates, our car accident attorneys in North Carolina can review the facts of your case, engage your insurance company, and help get the ball rolling on your personal injury claim so you can begin to heal and get back to a normal life.
Trying to find the top personal injury attorney in Durham, NC, might seem difficult on the surface, but when you learn that Nage & Associates only handles serious motor vehicle accidents, the choice is easy. With more than two decades of experience only handling North Carolina motor vehicle accident cases, we’ve successfully recovered over $500 million in compensation for our clients.
Our firm is highly focused, with a proven track record in traumatic medicine, insurance regulations, and personal injury lawsuits. Founding attorney Carl Nagle is a former insurance claims adjuster and former insurance company lawyer. He knows exactly how to confront the insurance adjusters who are working now to oppose your claims. We also have two retired North Carolina State Troopers and four licensed NC auto insurance adjusters on staff. Our team stands ready to represent you and helping car accident victims is all we do.
We excel in employing top crash reconstruction experts, working with police to investigate collisions, preserving crucial evidence to establish fault and legal responsibility, and effectively presenting medical evidence to maximize settlements and trial outcomes. Additionally, we are skilled in managing settlements, minimizing external claims on settlement funds, and ensuring the highest tax-free payments for our clients at the conclusion of each case. Like the most popular monument in Durham, NC, we stand tall for our clients when they’re at their lowest.
We refuse to handle all other types of legal matters because we focus exclusively on cases involving the following:
At Nagle & Associates, we aim to be THE authority on auto accidents and insurance law in North Carolina. We know how to respond to the aftermath of a serious accident and how to approach insurance companies to command their respect. When you choose our law firm, you can rest easy knowing we will collect the highest payment possible for our clients in every case we oversee.
What makes Nagle & Associates stand out from the crowd? As your personal injury lawyer, we’re passionate about providing the highest level of support when you’re facing some of the most difficult times in your life. We will help solve your problems, and our entire staff truly cares about your financial concerns and your medical recovery. We will work tirelessly to protect and enforce your rights.
Clients recommend our personal injury lawyers to their friends and family members because we provide:
Most law firms in North Carolina accept a wide range of cases. Many handle divorce, tax and business law, criminal defense law, and bankruptcy along with personal injury cases. Firms that “only” handle personal injury law typically handle vehicle injury cases along with slip and fall, premises liability, dog bites, workers compensation and many different types of injury cases.
They don’t focus purely on motor vehicle crash law. Our firm ONLY handles personal injury claims resulting from serious motor vehicle accidents. We are masters of the law in this arena and are prepared to protect your rights, establish fault, identify all at-fault parties, access all available insurance policies/coverage, and secure the maximum tax-free payment on all of your injury claims.
We only handle cases involving genuine injuries resulting from serious accidents. We’re not talking about a fender bender in the parking lot of highest rated fine dining restaurant in Durham, NC. Our focus on high-value cases enables us to offer a reduced legal fee for settlements and trial verdicts. Nearly all other personal injury attorneys charge 1/3 of the settlement. If we take on your case, our fee is 1/4 of the settlement. With our more equitable fee, your share of the settlement is 75%, which is significantly more than the 66% portion that most firms allow.
Most personal injury law firms tack on additional expenses to their 1/3 legal fee. Those fees can include expenses such as postage, copy costs, administrative fees, and charges to outside vendors to collect medical bills and records. Our reduced 1/4 fee includes all case administration expenses.
Our attorney fees for cases that involve court proceedings are lower compared to what other personal injury lawyers charge. If the insurance company does not offer you fair payment, we will take legal action against all parties responsible and bring your case to trial. Other personal injury lawyers will take 40-44% of your injury claim money if a lawsuit is necessary. However, our fee for litigation is 1/3, which means that a larger portion of your personal injury compensation stays with you at the conclusion of your case.
Carl Nagle’s extensive experience in both plaintiff and defense roles makes him a truly exceptional personal injury attorney in Durham, NC. He and his legal team now work only for individuals injured in vehicle accidents in North Carolina. Prior to focusing exclusively on representing crash victims, Carl Nagle spent several years working as an insurance claims adjuster in Atlanta. After graduating with top honors from the University of Georgia School of Law, Carl served as an insurance defense attorney. His firsthand experience in representing at-fault drivers and insurance companies enables him to predict and counter insurance defense tactics, and he knows how to push insurance companies to offer generous settlements in all cases.
We have seven offices spread across North Carolina, so there's likely one very close to you. However, if you’re reluctant to drive on the busiest interstate highway near Durham, NC, or live in a remote area that makes travel inconvenient, we won't charge anything to meet with you at your home. Most things can be sorted out over the phone or by mail. Additionally, most cases are settled and result in payment with no court involvement, and this process can be managed without you having to leave your home. If your case needs to go to trial before a jury, we'll do this in your home county.
You aren't obligated to hire a lawyer to settle an accident claim. However, having a lawyer represent you in negotiations with the insurance company likely will result in a larger settlement. According to a report by the Insurance Research Council, 85% of the funds disbursed for bodily injury claims went to individuals who had retained legal counsel.
Former adjuster Carl Nagle offers this warning – “Insurance adjusters work only for the insurance company, and their goal is to minimize payment in every case. They are cost-control experts and they have no legal obligation to tell you what they truly owe. Whenever possible, they will deny valid claims and pay people less than they deserve”.
NC crash victims with serious injuries legally have nothing more than a “cause of action”, which means a right to sue the at-fault driver. Insurance companies know that victims who handle their cases without a lawyer present do not intend to sue, and likely also have no idea what their case is worth. Unrepresented victims are offered less than they deserve, and many settle for pennies on the dollar.
If you hire an attorney, you pay nothing up front and your lawyer beings working for you immediately. We handle all insurance company communications, ensuring that a skilled adjuster cannot misquote you or trick you into forfeiting your rights. We handle crash investigations and the task of gathering all of your medical bills, medical records, lost wage evidence and other case proofs. This is homework you will have to handle if you don’t have legal representation. We assemble the case and highlight the medical evidence which adds value to your settlement We then threaten to file a lawsuit on your behalf, and apply legal and financial leverage to push for the highest settlement offer. After settlement, we negotiate discounts on unpaid medical bills and on health insurance claims against your settlement money. All of these efforts protect your rights and result in the highest possible tax-free settlement payment landing in your pocket. And your attorney is paid only if and when we deliver money to you.
Victims of careless commercial drivers who have high-limits insurance policies and victims who suffer more severe injuries are targeted by insurance companies. Sadly, the more extensive your medical expenses and other losses resulting from a car accident, the greater the likelihood that the other motorist’s insurance company will contest your claim. Victims in high-damage cases should always involve an attorney to build and present their personal injury case.
Insurance companies prioritize safeguarding their profits over fair treatment of crash victims. Attempting to navigate negotiations with insurance adjusters and company lawyers on your own puts you at a disadvantage, as insurance companies have vast experience minimizing claim payments and extensive legal teams helping them oppose your case. Hiring personal injury representation is also a wise idea when you’re trying to deal with one or more of the following situations:
Some motorists responsible for accidents don’t have liability insurance or have only bought the lowest amount of insurance mandated by law. If you were involved in an accident caused by a driver without adequate insurance, a lawyer can assist in filing a claim with your own insurance coverage to compensate for the difference. We can often identify several policies that can be stacked together to vastly increase the pool of money available to pay your claims.
Complex injuries can necessitate costly medical treatment and long-term disability assistance. Without the guidance of a seasoned personal injury attorney, you may not be able to afford continuing care and upcoming medical expenses. Also, severe injuries often result in lasting or permanent symptoms and medical needs. Injury lawyers know how to retain VocReha experts and medical experts to develop the evidence which allows us to collect for future lost wages, future medical needs, and future pain and suffering.
A personal injury lawyer can help you recover compensation for the damage caused to your vehicle, and arrange for an independent assessment to determine repair costs. When a client retains us to handle their injury claims, we handle all property damage claims for free. We never charge to help with vehicle repairs, total loss claims or help securing a rental car.
In North Carolina, we have the “pure contributory negligence” law. In this state, if a crash victim contributes slightly to causing their accident or injuries, they have no right to present ANY claims. If you are just 1% at fault, you get nothing for your car damage or injury claims. Insurance companies always try to place blame on victims injured in car accidents. By hiring a lawyer early, we make sure you never make a statement that kills your case. We also investigate the crash early and gather evidence proving all other drivers’ fault, and proving that you were innocent and could not avoid the collision.
Losing a family member in a car accident is horrible, but it’s even more tragic when they perish due to someone else’s negligence. Surviving family members have a right to claim wrongful death benefits, but insurance companies will not simply volunteer fair payment. While you grieve the loss of your loved one, your wrongful death attorney can build the strongest case to help you secure justice and cover financial losses related to the death of your family member.
A traffic collision, also referred to as a car accident, happens when a vehicle crashes into another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other obstructions. Vehicle collisions can lead to different levels of vehicle damage, injuries to people inside, and, in some cases, even death. Annual reports from the past few years have indicated a consistent rise in vehicle accidents, injuries, and fatalities in North Carolina. The state recorded over 273,000 car crashes in 2022, leading to in excess of 110,000 injuries.
If you’re in one of the following types of car crashes, you should contact an auto accident lawyer ASAP:
A head-on collision happens when two vehicles’ front ends collide. This type of accident often results in very serious injuries and, sometimes, fatalities.
A rear-end collision happens when the front of one automobile crashes into the back of another vehicle. This type of collision happens most often when a driver fails to pay attention or is tailgating another driver.
When two vehicles are moving parallel to one another and make contact – usually due to an improper lane change – a sideswipe collision happens.
In a side-impact collision, one automobile crashes into the side of another, creating a “T” shape. These car wrecks are known to happen at intersections and typically produce serious injuries.
These auto wrecks are also known as chain reaction collisions and happen when three or more automobiles collide in a series of collisions. Multi-car pileups are known to happen in dense traffic and on large roadways like the busiest interstate highway near Durham, NC.
When a vehicle turns over on its side or on its roof, a rollover accident occurs, which can have catastrophic consequences for the driver and also for other motorists.
Regardless of the type of car accident you’re involved in, you should know that North Carolina adheres to a fault-based system for wrecks. That means the driver found responsible for causing the wreck is usually accountable for the resulting damages. However, it’s important to note that North Carolina also follows the pure contributory negligence rule. This means that if a plaintiff is found even partially at fault for the accident, they might be unable to collect payment for their property damage and injury claims.
While insurance companies should provide a lump sum to cover all accident-related expenses, in many cases, the amount they are willing to offer is typically unfair and insufficient without help from an experienced auto accident lawyer like Carl Nagle.
Whether you’re driving near the the biggest university or college near Durham, NC or taking a short ride to the store, a car crash can happen in a split second. When it does, it can leave you confused and disoriented. However, taking quick action after an accident can help preserve your rights if you’re injured. Keep these steps in mind if you’re ever involved in a car wreck in North Carolina:
If someone's actions or lack of action caused you harm while driving, you may have a valid personal injury claim. There are many types of physical and emotional injuries that fall into different categories. At Nagle & Associates, P.A., we’ll work with you one-on-one to gather evidence that can prove your case and help you receive the compensation you deserve. Whether you were in a collision involving a drunk driver, hit while walking to work, or sustained injuries in a motorcycle accident, our goal is to help you collect the full amount of compensation that the law allows.
At Nagle & Associates, we're proud to provide clients with the highest level of support when they are facing some of the most difficult challenges imaginable. We pledge to provide them with reliable legal representation and treat them with respect, compassion, and empathy. If you’re suffering from the results of a major auto accident in North Carolina, know that we’re here to help in any way that we’re able.
Our team of car accident lawyers will work tirelessly to help you confront and solve your most immediate problems, to build the strongest personal injury case on your behalf, and to collect the highest amount of compensation through settlement or trial. When you or your family’s health and financial security are on the line, don’t settle for less – choose Nagle & Associates, P.A., today.
DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — One by one, box trucks and even a semi headed out of Durham on Thursday, providing relief to Buncombe and Avery counties.Maureen Frazer-Monroe volunteered to pack up some of the supplies being sent to those hit hardest by Hurricane Helene.“It’s our community,” she said. “I mean, North Carolina ...
DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — One by one, box trucks and even a semi headed out of Durham on Thursday, providing relief to Buncombe and Avery counties.
Maureen Frazer-Monroe volunteered to pack up some of the supplies being sent to those hit hardest by Hurricane Helene.
“It’s our community,” she said. “I mean, North Carolina is hurting so badly right now and we still don’t know the depths of it.”
Some of the items that are getting sent over to the mountains include the essentials, such as jugs of water, diapers and snacks for those in need.
“We are doing a little bit everywhere in hopes that it’ll make enough of an impact,” volunteer Letitia Powell said.
It’s all part of an effort organized by the Durham Rescue Mission, collecting donations from across the Triangle over the last week.
So far, they’ve sent out over 150,000 pounds of supplies in the wake of Helene.
“It’s meant the world to me to be able to see all this stuff happening, because we are not a relief agency … we’re a homeless shelter,” Durham Rescue Mission Director of Development Adam Todd said. “That is our primary goal.”
The mission also sent a cook team to serve about 600 pounds of fresh food.
“I don’t know how many people are there, but they’re just wiped out and there’s nothing to eat,” Durham Rescue Mission President and CEO Rob Tart said. “The rescue workers need to eat, too.”
Organizers plan to deliver to Ashe County this week.
“It just makes me incredibly grateful to be where we are, to be able to give what we can and sad at the same time,” Frazer-Monroe said.
From hygiene products to canned food to first aid, the rescue mission is still accepting donations.
Operation connect Carolina working to bring back cell service in western NCA Durham-based mobile network company is working to support people without cellular service in western North Carolina.Celestic, which aims to provide communications infrastructure in disaster situations, launched Operation Connect Carolina to bring mobile hubsto hard-to-reach areas of our state impacted by Hurricane Helene.Helene dumped heavy rain across western North Carolina on ...
Operation connect Carolina working to bring back cell service in western NC
A Durham-based mobile network company is working to support people without cellular service in western North Carolina.
Celestic, which aims to provide communications infrastructure in disaster situations, launched Operation Connect Carolina to bring mobile hubsto hard-to-reach areas of our state impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Helene dumped heavy rain across western North Carolina on Thursday and Friday, leading to landslides, flooding and wind damage in the mountains. Much of the region is without power or cell service, leaving loved ones unable to check on missing family members.
People in western North Carolina need food, water, medicine and other essentials, but aid groups need to be able to find them to help them.
That's where Operation Connect Carolina, headquartered in Durham's American Underground, comes in.
"I really hope we can save lives," Aaron Huslage, Celestic's CEO, said. "People that would normally help in a situation like this are having a really hard time with logistics, even just getting the things they need, asking the questions to get the responses they need."
According to Huslage, Celestic has partnered with local non-profits to make sure the needs of people impacted by Helene are being met, including through connectivity, partnering for deployments and fundraising.
Huslage is working to deploy portable cell phone towers and Wi-Fi powered by Starlink and other companies to get high-speed internet to impacted areas.
"A lot of the infrastructure just disappeared over the course of the storm, and that's going to take a long time to get back," Hulsage said. "We see hospitals, we see fire stations, we see libraries, we see community organizations disconnected. People that would normally help in a situation like this are having a really hard time with logistics."
In storms, people who need help and people who provide aid both rely on technology to connect.
"Connectivity is not an optional thing anymore," Huslage said. "We need food, we need water, we need shelter and we need to be connected to one another."
"Connectivity has woven itself into our everyday lives," added Brandon Hoe, a volunteer with Operation Connect Carolina. "It's an essential part of our lives. Without connectivity, so many things can't happen."
In 2018, Jil Christensen founded Day One Relief, which connects LBGTQIA+ and marginalized communities with lifesaving resources during disasters. Day One Relief is working with Operation Connect Carolina to respond to Helene, and Christensen said time is of the essence.
"Everyone up in the mountains right now has a ticking time clock, and the resources need to get there," Christensen said. "I believe in this project. Every minute after a storm for the first couple weeks is how you save lives, so when it comes to connectivity, it's time."
Aside from aid, founders say the human connection this technology would allow is vital.
Huslage founded Celestic in December 2023 after working on various relief projects around the world. He told WRAL News he assisted with Hurricane Katrina relief, building a wireless network from Mississippi to the Louisiana border.
"I started a company here in North Carolina to work on exactly this problem, and it happened here, which is surreal," Huslage said. "It's really difficult to see those people suffering in such a profound way in our backyard."
WRAL News has a guide to how to help our western neighbors.
By calling 211 or visiting nc211.org, families and individuals can obtain free and confidential information on health and human services and resources in their community. People trying to connect with family members can call NC 211 or 1-888-892-1162 if calling from out-of-state. People can also call those numbers to report missing loved ones.
READ MOREHurricane Helene swept across the Southeast, causing major flooding and destruction throughout North Carolina. The News & Observer and the Charlotte Observer have a collection of stories about Hurricane Helene and the damage it left, particularly in Western North Carolina.Expand AllAs Helene made her slog through North Carolina, she brought heavy rains and gusty winds to the state, leaving behind flash flooding, two tornadoes and at least two deaths.The storm’s eye made landfall in Florid...
Hurricane Helene swept across the Southeast, causing major flooding and destruction throughout North Carolina. The News & Observer and the Charlotte Observer have a collection of stories about Hurricane Helene and the damage it left, particularly in Western North Carolina.
As Helene made her slog through North Carolina, she brought heavy rains and gusty winds to the state, leaving behind flash flooding, two tornadoes and at least two deaths.
The storm’s eye made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend around 11:10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, as a Category 4 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
By 5 a.m. Sept. 27, Helene had been downgraded to a tropical storm, according to the NHC. Maximum sustained winds had decreased to around 70 mph, and the center of the storm was expected to move over central and northeastern Georgia before turning northwestward and slow down over the Tennessee Valley.
The NHC predicted “catastrophic and life-threatening flash and urban flooding, including numerous landslides” across parts of the southern Appalachians and “damaging wind gusts” over parts of Georgia and the Carolinas on Sept. 27.
But damage wasn’t limited to the mountains. At least 15 people were injured, four seriously, in Nash County when a tornado hit the Eastern North Carolina city of Rocky Mount.
By the time Helene crawled out of the state, it had become a tropical depression and then a post-tropical cyclone.
President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for North Carolina on Sept. 26, which allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help fund emergency protective measures in much of western North Carolina, including evacuations and emergency shelters, The News & Observer previously reported.
The National Weather Service’s office in Greenville, South Carolina, called Helene “one of the most significant weather events to happen in the western portions of the area in the modern era” in a Sept. 26 social media post.
Helene was predicted to bring heavy rain to western North Carolina, increasing the risk of landslides.
Flash flood warnings were issued across western North Carolina — including in Asheville, Hickory and Charlotte — the morning of Sept. 27.
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for parts of Mecklenburg, Transylvania and McDowell counties.
Severe weather had moved out of the Triangle by Friday afternoon.
A band of showers and thunderstorms with heavy rain moved across the Triangle through the morning.
1110 am: BREAKING - Orange, Wake, and Durham Counties - Greatest risk of heavy rain, wind gusts in excess of 50 mph, and isolated tornadoes will spread across the area over the next 90 minutes. Please find a safe place. pic.twitter.com/RipsAsSjMi
— NWS Raleigh (@NWSRaleigh) September 27, 2024
Sustained wind speeds of 15-25 mph were expected, with gusts of 35-45 mph, throughout the morning and early afternoon Sept. 27.
The most life-threatening risks were flash flooding and tornadoes, the meteorologist said, encouraging people to have a way to quickly receive alerts about weather hazards as they arise.
July 21, 2023 3:58 PM
Duke Energy customers may report and track outages on the provider’s website. More than 215,000 Duke Energy customers in North Carolina were without power around 7 a.m. Sept. 27.
Check where tornado, flood and other severe weather watches and warnings have been issued here.
Gov. Roy Cooper said during a morning briefing Sept. 27 that there are an estimated 879,000 power outages across the state and that there have already been more than 100 swift water rescues.
”This is one of the worst storms in modern history for parts of Western North Carolina. The end of the rain is not the end of the threat,” Cooper said.
As N.C. Emergency Management Director Will Ray gave a Sept. 27 morning update on Helene, a harsh tone sounded from cell phones throughout the room, warning of a flash flood warning in the immediate area until 3 p.m.
”With such significant rainfall, water levels and flooding in the Western North Carolina mountains can rapidly change and cause a substantial threat to life. Many counties in Western North Carolina have ordered evacuations to save lives,” Ray said.
Cooper also emphasized that Western North Carolinians should stay at home instead of driving through stormy conditions on roadways that could be susceptible to flooding.
”People in Western North Carolina should consider all roads closed unless you’re seeking higher ground,” Cooper said.
Statewide, there were more than 290 road closures the morning of Sept. 27, many in the western part of the state but some lingering in the Southeastern corner from last week’s unnamed storm that brought heavy rains to the region.
All public schools in the Triangle were closed to students and staff Sept. 27. These include:
Wake Tech and Durham Tech also closed their campuses.
Helene created problems for travelers out of RDU Airport on Sept. 27. Flights to Charlotte scheduled to leave RDU before noon were canceled, and some afternoon flights are delayed. More than 1,000 flights at Charlotte’s airport have been disrupted during the past couple of days, The Charlotte Observer reported.
Flights scheduled to leave RDU before noon Sept. 27, headed to cities including Boston, Detroit, Atlanta, Chicago, Indianapolis, Washington, D.C., Orlando and Austin, were canceled or delayed.
Check the status of flights to and from RDU Airport here.
This story was originally published September 27, 2024, 8:11 AM.
In Durham, first responders are looking out for flash flooding and downed trees.DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- As Hurricane Helene closes in, North Carolina is bracing for what Gov. Roy Cooper ...
In Durham, first responders are looking out for flash flooding and downed trees.
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- As Hurricane Helene closes in, North Carolina is bracing for what Gov. Roy Cooper called Thursday an "unusually dangerous storm," with heavy rainfall, gusty winds and isolated severe storms expected across the Triangle.
"We've been managing water across our system to create additional space for the rainfall we anticipate," Duke Energy spokesperson Jeff Brooks said. "Then, of course, with that saturated ground, when you have wind gusts that come through, that can bring down trees, that can affect power lines."
Brooks said they're getting ready for Helene's arrival in the Carolinas after making "a lot of improvements" during the past few years that include strengthening the grid and making it more resistant to outages from severe weather.
"We've also been improving our resiliency using self-healing technologies that can automatically identify a power outage and reroute power to help restore service faster, and that's a big tool," Brooks said. "During major storms, about half the benefits we generate from that technology come during major storms. So, it's a great asset for our crews in the field to help restore power and limit the number of customers affected by an outage."
RELATED | How to report and check power outages in your area
Duke Energy also announced it secured more crews and has more than 10,000 resources ready to assist with restoration.
"Our crews are ready to respond where we see the outages and if we need to reposition those crews to better assist hard-hit areas, we can do that very quickly as the storm passes," Brooks said.
Local emergency response teams such as Durham County EMS also said they're prepared for Helene's impacts.
"Significant rain over a short period of time will give us flash flooding, things of that nature," Durham County EMS interim chief paramedic Gordon Smith said. "We can have downed trees with the wind, especially with the soggy soil, with the conditions over the last few days. So those are the main things that we'll be looking for."
Smith said as they anticipate the severe weather threat to increase, he urged people to be prepared as well.
"We would prefer everybody stay indoors and safe," Smith said. "But if you absolutely must leave the home ... do so with caution. And again, do not travel through any standing water."
Crews at the Durham Fire Department gathered in the Southpoint parking lot ahead of the storm on Thursday. The crew is one of many being deployed to the western branch area as part of the Incident Support Team.
Chapel Hill and Raleigh fire departments have also been deployed to help during the storm.
WATCH | Duke Energy on preparation for power outages from Helene
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RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and isolated severe storms will be possible for Central NC late Thursday night and Friday as remnants of Hurricane Helene track north into the southern Appalachians.A few afternoon showers and isolated storms are possible on Wednesday. Temperature highs will be in the mid-80s.Rain from storms overnight Tuesday and Wednesday produced a lot of rain that led to several flood warnings. Many of them have expired. That said, many parts of the ABC11 coverage should prepare for possi...
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and isolated severe storms will be possible for Central NC late Thursday night and Friday as remnants of Hurricane Helene track north into the southern Appalachians.
A few afternoon showers and isolated storms are possible on Wednesday. Temperature highs will be in the mid-80s.
Rain from storms overnight Tuesday and Wednesday produced a lot of rain that led to several flood warnings. Many of them have expired. That said, many parts of the ABC11 coverage should prepare for possible flooding as Helene continues to churn towards Florida and then move north.
Person County School District is closed for students on Wednesday due to flooding and dangerous road conditions. According to the district, staff will report on a 2-hour delay.
Some saw and felt thunder and lightning overnight.
One of those bolts hit home on Infiniti Lane in Southeast Raleigh off Sunnybrook Road. When firefighters got there, they discovered the attic was on fire. All occupants fortunately got out safely.
WATCH | Lightning bolt sets house attic on fire in Raleigh
Wednesday morning a downed tree closed both lanes on Leesville Road near Ashcliff Lane in Durham. The road reopened after crews removed the tree.
Rain: Friday will be when the area will receive the biggest rain impacts. By then, Helene is expected to be a weakening tropical storm or depression. Tropical downpours may lead to locally heavy rain at times-likely 1 to 3 with an isolated 4" possible. So far this month, we've gotten 10.18" making it the 6th wettest September on record, and a couple of inches from Helene could surpass the current third place total of 11.92".
Wind: It'll turn breezy Thursday night. By Friday, wind gusts of 25 to 40mph will be possible, which may lead to power outages.
Tornado Risk: There is a level 1 risk for isolated tornadoes & damaging winds in the Sandhills Thursday night. This risk expands to all of Central NC on Friday.
THE WEEKEND: Saturday will be partly cloudy with a spotty shower. A few showers will be around Sunday with the upper-level energy nearby. Weekend highs will be in the low to mid-80s with lows in the 60s.
WATCH: The Weather Show talks about Hurricane Helene
Here are some useful resources:
You can use the Flood Inundation Mapping and Alert Network to track water levels near you and which areas may be impacted by flooding.
You can report a power outage at 57801, use the Duke Energy app or their website.
You can check for road closures due to the storm.