North Carolina Refrigeration Trailer Rentals

What drives cold-storage demand in North Carolina

Weather and hazards

• Hurricane (June to November, peak August to September): Florence (2018) set a state record of 35.93 inches of tropical-cyclone rainfall, caused about $17 billion in damage and flooded roughly 75,000 structures. Fran (1996) and Hazel (1954) are other major storms. Prolonged outages and flooding after hurricanes can spoil refrigerated food and often create demand for emergency cold storage, temporary kitchens and warewashing. Source
• Flood (late September (Helene 2024); year-round with heavy rain): Helene (September 2024) brought record rain to the mountains (24.41 inches at Mount Mitchell), more than 100 deaths, dam breaches and mudslides, and severe flooding in towns such as Black Mountain. Mountain flooding can cut power, water and roads for days, which can leave restaurants and food distributors needing temporary refrigeration and kitchens. Source
• Ice storm (December to February): A December 2002 ice storm left more than 1.3 million people in the Charlotte area without power, some for weeks. In the Piedmont, cold-air damming often causes freezing rain, which can be a bigger concern than snow. Ice-related outages can last long enough to threaten walk-in coolers and freezers and can create a need for backup refrigeration. Source
• Tornado (March to May (all months possible)): North Carolina averages about 31 tornadoes a year; Raleigh was hit by an F4 in November 1988 and an EF-3 in April 2011. Tornado damage to a building or its power service can put a kitchen out of operation and often creates a short-term need for temporary food service equipment. Source

Power outages

• The December 2002 ice storm left more than 1.3 million people in the Charlotte area without power, some for weeks. Multi-week outages exceed what most commercial coolers can ride out and can create a need for emergency refrigeration. Source
• After Hurricane Helene in September 2024, Duke Energy said it would take days to restore the majority of customers in the Upstate and western North Carolina, with most expected back by that Friday. Multi-day outages in mountain communities can strand perishable inventory and create a need for temporary cold storage. Source
• In Black Mountain, Helene knocked out power, water and sewer for days and flooded Ingles Markets facilities in the town. Loss of both power and water often leaves food businesses unable to run refrigeration or wash dishes, which can create demand for mobile kitchens and warewashing. Source

Food and hospitality

• North Carolina ranks first nationally in sweet potato and poultry-and-egg production and second in hogs and turkeys, according to NC State Extension. Large livestock, poultry and produce operations depend on cold chain capacity and can need temporary storage at harvest and processing peaks. Source
• An NCDA&CS official said agricultural exports contributed over $3.3 billion to the state's economy at the end of 2023, with meat and poultry about 30% of exports. Export-oriented meat and poultry shipments pass through cold storage and refrigerated trucking and containers. Source
• FedEx built a $300 million mid-Atlantic air-cargo hub at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro (opened 2009), and the city is a Norfolk Southern freight hub. Logistics hubs move temperature-sensitive goods and can create overflow cold storage needs. Source
• Oak Island's summer population nears 50,000 against 8,396 permanent residents, and Kill Devil Hills is the largest settlement on the Outer Banks. Coastal resort towns see steep summer demand at restaurants and hotels that can exceed fixed refrigeration and kitchen capacity. Source
• Ingles Markets keeps its headquarters and distribution center in Black Mountain, and Siler City's population grew about 75% from 1990 to 2016 as workers were drawn to poultry processing jobs. Grocery distribution and poultry plants depend on uninterrupted refrigeration and can need temporary capacity during disruptions. Source