Ice build up on trees during the storm

The North Carolina ice storm of 2002 caused up to an inch of freezing rain from December 4–5 in central North Carolina. A total of 24 people were killed, and as many as 1.8 million people were left without electricity on December 6.[1] Power outages began December 4, and power was not completely restored until December 14.[2] Raleigh received the most freezing rain from a single storm since 1948, and Bristol, Tennessee received the most ice it had seen in 28 years. The storm also produced heavy rain in both the mountains and coastal plain of North Carolina.[3] Much of the Southern Plains and the Northeast received snow with this system.

During the power outages many residents used propane and kerosene powered generators and heaters to combat the cold, with some resorting to moving charcoal grills indoors to heat their households.[2] The increased usage of these heating methods, particularly grills led to a substantial number of cases of carbon monoxide poisoning. Varying reports allege 48 to 200 cases of poisoning.[2][4] Hispanic residents were disproportionately affected by the impacts of the ice storm, sustaining 23% of total injuries and 65% of carbon monoxide poisonings during the storm period.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ "USATODAY.com - Worst ice storm in years devastates the Carolinas". Archived from the original on 2013-02-03. Retrieved 2013-01-31.
  2. ^ a b c Ghim, Michael & Severance, Harry W. (2004). "Ice Storm-related Carbon Monoxide Poisonings in North Carolina: A Reminder" (PDF). Southern Medical Journal. 97 (11): 1060–1065. doi:10.1097/01.SMJ.0000144614.38668.60. PMID 15586595. S2CID 33870876. Archived from the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  3. ^ "The December 4-5, 2002 Southeast Severe Ice Storm: A Climatological Comparison | State Climate Office of North Carolina". Archived from the original on 2013-02-03. Retrieved 2013-01-31.
  4. ^ a b Broder, Joshua; Mehrotra, Abhishek & Tintinalli, Judith (2005). "Injuries from the 2002 North Carolina ice storm, and strategies for prevention". Injury. 36 (1): 221–26. doi:10.1016/j.injury.2004.08.007. PMID 15589908.
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