Emergency Management Director Mike Moore and Judge/Executive David Fields advise the county to be ready for the storm that has the potential to bring nearly a half inch of ice to the area and heavy, wet snow on top of that before it exits some time Friday.
The two also advise everyone to have supplies on hand.
The storm that is in the process of dumping nearly a foot of snow over parts of Kansas, one of our major weather feeders, is headed our way by later this evening, bringing the potential for downed power lines, tree limbs (which, as Moore says, bring down more power lines), and travel conditions that will make roads nearly impossible to navigate. Worse, the conditions will likely keep things at a standstill for an extended period, especially power.
“At this time, it is to start in the 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. time frame,” Moore says. While he also says timing is as hard to predict as amounts, he also foresees it hitting just as the morning commute takes hold.
That poses a problem. “We don’t have the power to tell people not to go to work, but we do suggest that they coordinate with their employers so that if there is any way they can stay off the roads, they do.
This winter, the county and state have been able to pretreat for winter events. While that has not eliminated problems, it has probably cut down number of events that could have happened as travel becomes hazardous. This time, though, pretreating is not an option because the heavy rains will just wash the salt and chemicals away. The road crews will have to wait till the event actually starts, putting them in less-than-ideal situations as it will anyone else who is on the road at that time. And it could possibly get cold enough to render the salt useless, too.
The situation will also be hazardous for any First Responders who are called out in the mess. Moore and Fields say that small gravel is available to spread if emergency vehicles are called out, and Fire Chief Dave Klaber told Falmouth City Council last night that they have coordinated with Pendleton Count Ambulance to be there with their 4x4 to help them get to patients.
Moore and Fields want to remind everyone that those First Responders may take longer to get to their sites, too.
After the event itself is over, the emergency command center will be opened, if necessary, in order to coordinate calls from all over the county so that problems can be addressed in an orderly and timely fashion.
And all power companies serving the area have lined up additional response workers in order to get power back as soon as possible. Duke alone has 300 additional workers on stand-by at this time.
The men do have advice for everyone as this weather system makes its way in: prepare for outages, especially if someone is on oxygen or has other health needs that require power; be aware that warming centers will be opened, and those will be shared; have plenty of non-perishable, “easy” food supplies in in case refrigeration and cooking sources are down for an extended time, and have bottled water and other supplies in, in case. And listen for closings.
The two admit they are in the mercy of the predictions for now and then the system itself. As usual in their line of work and in all of our lives, flexibility is key. Their motto: we just have to go with it.