Cary Spotlight | Issue #663

How Cary Residents Can Find Evacuation Routes, Harris Teeter Offers New Way to Save on Tolls, Gaps in Hurricane Readiness


🧭 Here’s what’s in today’s issue:

• 🧠 Trivia Challenge: Spotlight Hook
• ❤️ Discover Cary: How Cary Residents Can Find Evacuation Routes
• 📰 News: Harris Teeter Offers New Way to Save on North Carolina Tolls
• 📰 Scrollback: Cary Spotlight Poll Shows Gaps in Hurricane Readiness
• 😄 Meme of the Day – Just for laughs
• 🏪 Support Cary Spotlight: If you enjoyed this newsletter
• 📅 Events: Upcoming Events (Top Picks)

👉 Browse the highlights. Click your favorites.

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Question: Where is it illegal to own only one guinea pig because they get lonely?

(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)

Featured Event

3460 Ten-Ten Rd Suite #118, Cary, NC 27518

Sunday, August 17 | 1-5 PM: A community-wide Block Party Extravaganza right outside Chef’s Palette — complete with food, music, games, vendors & family-friendly fun, all while supporting a great cause.

Complimentary burgers, hot dogs & bottled water. Get Directions

School Supply Drive — bring donations & help us make a difference,

How Cary Residents Can Find Evacuation Routes

If you live in Cary and aren't sure about local emergency evacuation routes or safety resources, you're not alone and the good news is, there are free, official online tools to help you get prepared right away.

1. Wake County’s Emergency Hub: ReadyWake.com

The best place to start is ReadyWake.com — it’s the official emergency preparedness site for Wake County.

What You’ll Find:

  • ✅ Sign up for emergency alerts via phone, text, or email

  • ✅ Interactive tools to help you build an emergency plan and checklist

  • ✅ Guidance on local risks, including flood-prone zones and hurricane routes

  • ✅ Special needs registry if you or a loved one need assistance evacuating

Direct link to evacuation planning: Make an Emergency Plan

2. NC Department of Public Safety – Know Your Zone

North Carolina has a statewide initiative to help coastal and inland residents understand evacuation zones:

  • Use the tool: Know Your Zone Map

  • Plug in your address to find out whether you're in an evacuation zone and what to do if one is issued

3. Google Maps + Local Flood Data

You can also use Google Maps along with the Wake County Flood Mapping Tool to:

  • Check if you're near a stream, creek, or floodplain

  • Identify higher ground and secondary roads near your home

4. Cary-Specific Info & Contacts

While Cary doesn’t publish citywide evacuation routes (because needs vary by neighborhood and storm), here’s what you can do:

Quick Tips to Prepare Now

  • Choose two routes out of your neighborhood (in case one is blocked)

  • Know your nearest shelter locations

  • Keep your car’s gas tank at least half full during hurricane season

  • Store key documents in a waterproof go-bag

How helpful was this information about Cary’s emergency preparedness resources?

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Do you have a favorite place to eat in Cary, NC? Click to share your pick.

 Harris Teeter Offers New Way to Save on North Carolina Tolls

The North Carolina Department of Transportation has expanded its NC Quick Pass program by partnering with Harris Teeter, making sticker transponders available at all 150 of the grocery chain’s locations statewide. This partnership nearly triples the number of retail locations where the transponders can be purchased.

To buy one, customers must pick up a voucher in the gift card section and redeem it at the store’s customer service desk. After purchase, the transponder must be activated online (https://www.ncquickpass.com/activate/) . The sticker provides a 50 percent discount on toll roads within the state.

The new partnership is part of an effort to improve convenience for drivers across North Carolina. It represents the first time a single retailer has made the transponders available throughout the state.

Officials hope the move will increase adoption of the toll program and help residents save money on travel. Read Full Story

How likely are you to purchase an NC Quick Pass Sticker at your local Harris Teeter?

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We’re rewinding the feed to spotlight a standout moment, story, or snapshot from Cary’s past. Let’s scroll back and see…

Cary Spotlight Poll Shows Gaps in Hurricane Readiness

A Cary Spotlight reader poll shows that while awareness of hurricane preparedness is rising, only a small fraction of Cary residents consider themselves fully ready. 61 percent said they had some supplies but still needed to do more. Another 30 percent admitted they had thought about preparing but had not yet acted. Just 9 percent said they had a complete emergency kit and evacuation plan.

Reader feedback revealed common concerns, including a lack of food storage and unfamiliarity with emergency routes. One resident admitted they did not know any evacuation routes in Cary, while others said they still needed to purchase essential supplies.

Wake County emergency officials continue to encourage residents to take simple but crucial steps such as building a supply kit, creating a family evacuation plan, and understanding flood risks. The county’s ReadyWake.com site offers planning guides and an alert system to help households stay informed.

The findings suggest that many Cary residents are only partially prepared, leaving room for improvement in readiness efforts. Officials say now is the time to close those gaps before the peak of hurricane season arrives.

Meme of the Day.
Brought to you by Cary's Daily Newsletter.

What’s faster than word of mouth? Cary Spotlight! Keeps you updated on what is going on locally and connects businesses to our vibrant community.


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🎉 Weekend Events Preview (Top Picks)

Outdoor events may be changed due to weather, so click the links to see latest event information. Here are a few great ways to enjoy the weekend:

• Today: The Soul Picnic: A Celebration of Food, Fun & Culture 5PM
• Today: NC Courage vs Portland Thorns (Home Game) 7:30PM
• Sunday: Chef’s Palette Block Party Extravaganza 1PM-5PM
• Monday: Athletic Committee 6PM-8PM

To save space in your inbox, we’ve moved the full list of events online — now you can plan ahead with access to this week and next! See Full 2-Week Calendar

The Answer to the Cary Spotlight Hook Trivia Question 👇👇👇
In Switzerland, it's illegal to own just one guinea pig because they are highly social animals and can suffer from loneliness if kept alone. The country has some of the most progressive animal welfare laws in the world, recognizing the emotional needs of pets. To protect guinea pigs from isolation, Swiss law requires them to be kept in pairs or groups. In fact, there are even services that help people “rent” a companion guinea pig if one passes away!