The incoming ice storm brings worries for many -- of impassable roads, bitter cold and days without power.
The reality of those dangers, and a tragedy linked to an ice storm in 2002, has reshaped how one Wake County family is preparing.
Other WRAL Top Stories
"I remember it being caked on, thick ice just everywhere," said Mike Dixon.
His father-in-law, Mal Young, was a planner. When the power went out in 2002, he got the generator ready.
"There was no power, no way to heat the house, no way for them to heat their food, so they were trying to power up a generator to heat the house," Dixon said.
That's when the unthinkable happened.
"He was really smart, had all the plans," Dixon said. "Normally what he had done was he would raise the garage door here, and he would have the other door open so there was air ventilation running through."
But in the moment between when Young turned on the generator and was able to open the barn doors, he collapsed.
"He strained himself, went down, hit the floor, was unconscious."
Carbon monoxide had filled the room.
"By the time I got here to try to help with CPR, he had passed," Dixon said.
Since that time, the family has lost power dozens of times, failures that can last for days. But they are taking no chances. The generator is only ever powered up outside and away from the home.
"Something could always happen," Dixon Said. "You really have to think things through to avoid a tragedy like our family has dealt with for years."
It’s also a good reminder to get carbon monoxide detectors.
