Local News

Fayetteville emergency management prepares before, during, after storms

Details

Tuesday, 27 October 2026

Written by Tiffany Haywood

Fayetteville coordinator Laura Smith helps prepare residents, coordinate resources as emergencies unfold and connect neighbors with support during recovery.
Modern technology can warn us before we know what is coming, alert us as danger approaches and help us make sense of what happened afterward. On Oct. 11, my phone gave the warning its familiar soundtrack: beep, beep, beep. A tornado warning.
It can be tempting to check your location, dismiss the alert and think the storm is headed somewhere else. For some Fayetteville residents, that warning marked the beginning of a very different afternoon.
At 12:03 p.m., the National Weather Service confirmed a tornado over Fayetteville. Smith said the initial report described an overturned tractor-trailer near Walmart on Skibo Road. As more reports of damage arrived, the fire chief asked her to join the response. Officials were assessing a damaged hotel roof and what residents and city departments might need.
Would people need another place to stay? Was a shelter needed? Would transit or public safety departments need additional resources? Smith joined the unfolding response to help coordinate those needs and keep city operations moving.
The City of Fayetteville’s Office of Emergency Management prepares for emergencies before they happen, coordinates with departments and outside partners as they unfold, and helps connect residents with support afterward. Its work includes severe weather, hazardous materials incidents, infrastructure failures and technological disruptions.
“The Office of Emergency Management is really about making sure that the city of Fayetteville is prepared for the unexpected,” Smith said.
A road closure or other disruption can affect more than traffic. Smith said a closed major route could disrupt transit service and nearby businesses, so planning includes finding ways to keep residents moving and services operating until a problem is resolved.
At the city, Smith is an “office of one.” Coordination is central to the role. During the storm and its aftermath, she checked in with departments, utilities and partners, including Fayetteville Public Works Commission and Duke Energy, and worked with the National Weather Service to assess the tornado’s path. Volunteer organizations such as Baptist on Mission and Team Rubicon also joined recovery efforts. The goal, Smith said, is to help people return to normal—or “some sense of normalcy”—as quickly as possible.
That work includes planning and practice long before the next storm. Smith works with city and county partners on exercises and after-action reviews, which help teams identify gaps and improve how they work together. Tabletop exercises let staff discuss how they would respond to a scenario; full-scale exercises give responders and partner agencies a chance to practice in the field.
For Smith, the work is personal. She worked in Cumberland County 911 dispatch during Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Florence. During Florence, she said, she felt “the call” to move into emergency management. After the Oct. 11 tornado, she went into affected areas to talk with residents. Those conversations helped her understand their needs and consider where the City could improve.
Smith said she developed the City’s self-reporting tool to help residents share what they were experiencing. The City’s Office of Emergency Management page links to the form as “Report an impact.” Residents can use it to report nonemergency storm impacts such as property damage, flooding, debris, road obstructions, utility hazards and impacts to City services. The reports help the City build a fuller picture of an incident and where support may be needed. Residents can find the tool at FayettevilleNC.gov/OEM and request progress updates using a tracking number.
After the Oct. 11 tornado, Smith used reports to help route requests to the appropriate City department, county or state resources, or volunteer organizations. The City cannot enter private property to remove trees, she said, but volunteer groups may be able to help cut debris and move it to the roadside. For residents who need hands-on help with fallen trees or yard debris, the City has also directed people to call United Way 211. Emergencies or immediate danger should be reported to 911.
ReadyFay is the City’s preparedness campaign. It offers guidance for emergency plans and supply kits and is separate from the self-reporting tool. Smith recommends a three-day emergency kit for every person in the household, with essentials such as medications, toiletries, clothing and food. Families should plan for pets, check on elderly neighbors, choose an out-of-area contact, agree on a meeting place and practice the plan. Residents can find preparedness information at FayettevilleNC.gov/ReadyFay. Cumberland Alerts, operated by Cumberland County, is a separate system for emergency notifications.
For all the plans, training and checklists, Smith said Fayetteville neighbors “always come together to help their neighbors.” Seeing that response, she added, “restores a little bit of faith in humanity.”

(Photo: Laura Smith participates in a tabletop emergency-management exercise. Photo by Noticed by Nick Photography.)

City Council votes to advance moratorium on data centers

Details

Tuesday, 27 October 2026

Written by Jami McLaughlin

The Fayetteville City Council voted unanimously to advance a potential moratorium on data center developments following an Oct. 19 special meeting. The decision marks a critical step in a months-long debate concerning the industry's local footprint.
During the 11 a.m. special session, city officials and legal counsel presented regulatory frameworks, data center research findings and community feedback collected during public sessions held in September. Concerns from residents have primarily centered on environmental and infrastructure impacts, specifically water consumption, noise levels, and heavy electricity demands.
Nick Tosco, a local government and land use attorney with the law firm Poyner Spruill, delivered a legal review to the council. Tosco outlined recommendations for updating the city's Unified Development Ordinance text amendments to govern data centers more strictly.
Following the presentations, council members approved scheduling a formal public hearing regarding the proposed data center moratorium ordinance. City staff members were directed to draft the ordinance for review prior to the upcoming public hearing.
The council previously authorized a 120-day study in April to evaluate expert analysis and visit operational facilities across North Carolina and Virginia.
For further information, visit www.fayettevillenc.gov/UDOamendments.

Cumberland County
The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners moved forward with local administrative updates and community recognitions over the last two weeks following an agenda session and a regular meeting.
A highlight of the regularly scheduled meeting on Oct. 19 was the presentation of certificates to graduates of the 2026 Citizens' Academy. Spearheaded by the county's public information office, the six-week program provides local residents with a behind-the-scenes perspective on county operations, featuring departmental tours and direct discussions with county leadership. Officials noted the program directly aligns with the board’s ongoing strategic objective to foster responsive and transparent local government.
The board also recognized the Cumberland County Department of Social Services for securing a statewide accolade. The agency received the 2026 Innovation Award in the large-county division from the North Carolina Association of County Directors of Social Services. Social Services Director Brenda Jackson presented the honor, which specifically celebrated the agency’s collaborative work with the Professional Advisory Council and the Multidisciplinary Team Council. The cooperative model integrates local law enforcement, school systems, medical professionals and military officials to enhance child abuse investigations and family support structures.
The board's administrative activities coincide with the ongoing 2026 general election cycle. Early in-person voting began across Cumberland County on Oct. 15 and is scheduled to run through Oct. 31, with board seats up for election on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Cumberland County Joint Planning Board
The first draft of potential regulations for data centers, including restrictions on location, noise, water use and power generation, went before the Cumberland County Joint Planning Board on Tuesday, Oct. 20.
In the presentation to the planning board, the framework would limit data centers to industrial zoning districts and require approval through conditional zoning. Facilities with power generation beyond emergency backup would face narrower location restrictions. Nuclear power would be prohibited.
Other considerations included that general setbacks would total 800 feet, increasing to 1,200 feet near residential zoning or uses and within designated agricultural buffers. Facilities would generally need 2,000 feet of separation from schools, hospitals, nursing homes, day care facilities and places of worship. Certain industrial locations could qualify for standard district setbacks. Sites would need landscaping and opaque screening 50 feet wide and 15 feet high when installed. Operators would provide a contact available around the clock.
Data centers would remain subject to the county’s noise ordinance, with no waivers or exemptions. Applications would require certification from an independent acoustic engineer, and expansions would trigger additional studies. Maintenance and testing would occur from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, excluding holidays.
Water would come from public utilities, with recycled, closed-loop cooling required. Water and electricity providers would submit assurances addressing capacity, infrastructure and service impacts. Direct withdrawals from waterways would be prohibited.
The draft will go before the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners at a future meeting.

North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina lawmakers remain in recess as the focus shifts to campaigning ahead of the November midterm elections, leaving several high-profile legislative battles on hold.
The legislative pause followed a flurry of activity just before mid-October, when Republican leaders called an emergency extra session to address rising fuel costs. Lawmakers swiftly passed a bill temporarily suspending the state’s gasoline tax. The tax relief is scheduled to expire at the end of November.
As a result of the election recess, bills concerning unauthorized public camping and hemp regulations remain stalled.

About the Greater Fayetteville Chamber
Advocacy is a cornerstone of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber. Every week, the Chamber dedicates staff to attend City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County meetings as well as monitoring updates on the state and federal levels. We monitor legislation locally, statewide and federally to protect our community’s business interests. With 91% of U.S. adults recognizing a Chamber of Commerce's impact on growth, membership ensures a strong voice shaping policies, driving economic success and building a thriving business community—together. To learn more, visit www.faybiz.com or email jmclaughlin@faybiz.com.

Turn your home into a haunted house for Halloween

Details

Tuesday, 20 October 2026

Written by Staff Report

People celebrate Halloween with the same zeal as Thanksgiving and Christmas. Decorating for Halloween has evolved over the years, and many homeowners now go to great lengths to turn their humble abodes into horrific haunts. Achieving a haunted house vibe is easier than one might think with some creative ideas.
Dim the lights
Turning down the lights immediately increases the spooky factor for Halloween. The mind may jump to its own conclusions about what is nestled in a shadowy corner or just around the bend. Turning off lights and relying on flickering candles or battery-operated lanterns will also hide any imperfections in your decor.
Direct light upwards
Outdoors, position low-angle spotlights or floodlights pointing up at walls or trees to cast long, harsh shadows that seem scary.
Board up the windows
Tape lightweight painted cardboard strips across windows to mimic the look of an abandoned home. Scary shapes cut from cardboard or black paper can be taped inside of windows and backlit by dim lights to create an eerie atmosphere.
Utilize fog machines
If available, a fog machine near an entrance or in a hallway can provide a dense, disorienting haze. Again, it will reduce visibility, which can make a haunted house seem more frightening.
Tactile scares
Hang loose, dark pieces of string, tattered scrap fabric or faux spider webs from ceilings so that they will lightly brush against passers-by in dark areas. A hidden fan can be positioned to blow a sudden, chilly draft across a doorway to mimic a passing spirit.
Haunted portraits
Inexpensive thrift store frames can dress up eerie vintage photos or lenticular shifting images purchased online. For a real fright, have someone pose behind a frame and actually move or reach out as visitors go by.
Creepy dolls
Gather tattered, old plastic dolls and hang or display them clustered together. Or paint them all white and splatter them with red paint to look like blood.
Obscured paths
Create blind corners and obscured paths so visitors cannot anticipate what is waiting ahead. Use dark sheets or black painter's canvas taped securely to the ceiling. Position actors along the way to achieve jump scares.
Scary sounds
Place Bluetooth speakers throughout the haunted house to play a loop of screams, squeaky hinge noises or footsteps to keep guests off-kilter.
A haunted house is expected for Halloween thrills, and it's easy to create a spooky atmosphere with a little effort.

CFRT's 1209 Stages will serve up more than stage acts

Details

Tuesday, 20 October 2026

Written by Katie Herring

If you have driven down Hay Street in the Haymount area in the past two years, you know that a lot is changing at 1209 Hay Street, long-time home of Cape Fear Regional Theatre. The performance space itself underwent major renovations in 2020, when the pandemic closed the doors for more than a year.
Artistic Director Mary Kate Burke and her team then decided that the rest of the building needed attention as well. The theatre’s ever-popular education programming was consistently filling up and having to turn away interested young performers. Expanding classroom, office, storage, and public meeting space was a top priority.
As plans for a new and improved building came together, the team also envisioned something new for theatre: a dedicated food-service area. The idea of a rooftop bar took shape and was included in the earliest renderings of the newly renovated building. In the ensuing years, the vision has evolved and the business taking shape is Brava, a restaurant featuring small plates and craft cocktails; an upscale yet accessible dining destination in the heart of the Haymount neighborhood.
The culinary mind behind Brava is Brian Graybill. Brava will be Graybill’s third endeavor in the Fayetteville area. The chef’s work is well-known and loved by fans of Napkins-the restaurant at Dirtbag Ales and Taproom-and downtown Fayetteville’s favorite sandwich shop, Pan. According to Graybill: "I'm thrilled to be part of bringing Brava to life. Our roots in Fayetteville and at CFRT are so deep – this is truly a merging of our passions for food, art, and hospitality.”
While specific plans for Brava are still under construction, customers can expect the signature combination of fresh, local ingredients and innovative dishes to be center stage in Graybill’s menu. The restaurant will also feature beer and wine selections alongside craft cocktails. The bar menu will include signature cocktails that take inspiration from the current show running in the theatre downstairs.
The new restaurant is unique because it will be housed within the building that also houses the theatre. The building itself has been branded as 1209 Stages, though the theatre company housed there is still the Cape Fear Regional Theatre the Fayetteville community knows and loves.
Current plans are for Brava to be open consistently Thursdays through Sundays, whether a show is currently running on the stage below or not. Reservations will be available, and patrons can enjoy the food and beverages offered, with or without a ticket for the show. Patrons with tickets to a show can get a full evening under one roof: dinner and drinks followed by a high-quality theatre performance; you could even follow the show with a dessert, cocktail or glass of wine.
While food and beverages will certainly be the centerpiece of Brava, the intention behind the restaurant was always to provide an additional type of entertainment space. While the mainstage shows that CFRT is well-known for will still take place on the Bo and Herbert Thorpe stage, the rooftop lounge area will be able to accommodate smaller, cabaret-style performances. It will also hold special events, such as a pre-show pancake breakfast for little princesses before they see Frozen.
Long-term plans for the rooftop restaurant include opportunities for the space to be rented for events by people and groups in the community. Those looking to host meetings, parties, or any type of group event will soon have the unique, picturesque rooftop of 1209 Stages to choose from, beginning mid-April 2027.
The team at CFRT is looking for a couple of new team members to help manage the expanded offerings at 1209 Stages. They are currently seeking an Administrative Assistant/Company Manager and a Front of House Manager for Brava. Interested applicants can learn more and apply at cfrt.org/about-us.
According to Managing Director Ella Wren, the theatre’s “north star is always the work that is happening on the stage.” While the growth and expansion include a new business venture and increased opportunities off the stage, it will always be with an eye on telling great stories on the stage, making theatre accessible and exciting for the community, and improving the audience experience.
To keep up with the changes happening at 1209 Hay Street, including the opening events for Brava, follow Cape Fear Regional Theatre on Facebook and on their website, cfrt.org, and follow @bravarooftop on Instagram.

(Photo: This concept rendering shows what the rooftop of the new CFRT building will turn into: Brava, a restaurant owned by Brian Graybill. Photo courtesy of CFRT)