January 18, 2018
UPDATE: 3:44pm Thursday, Jan. 18
Level 1
Situational Update 1:00 PM 1-18-18 #KYWX
The majority of the primary routes are in good to excellent shape and improving greatly with the help of the temperatures and the sun.
The road and street departments are concentrating on our secondary routes today and with the help of the sun these routes are improving by the hour.
Since roadways are improving and expected to continue to do so we’re moving to a level one snow emergency at this time and it will remain in place until noon tomorrow at which time it will expire. Level one is just a recommendation of using caution on the roadways and to expect snow and ice covered roads. This is the case mainly on our secondary routes.
We still ask you to limit travel as much as possible to allow the roadways to continue to improve.
WARMING CENTER ON STANDBY STATUS
The warming center at the Lawrence County Community Center will be going back to standby status as well.
If you must be out please take your time and be careful. Allow extra room between you and other vehicles and be sure to watch for snow plows and give them plenty of room.
Michael Woods
Director Lawrence County EMA
STILL UNDER LEVEL 2
Situational Update 6:45 AM 1-18-18 #KYWX
Most state A routes are in good shape but still have patchy snow and ice.
The B-D routes routes are all being plowed and treated but are still more impacted by snow and ice. These routes remain fairly hazardous.
Secondary roads and streets that have been plowed are improving but remain hazardous and in need of the sun and warmer temperatures to finish clearing them. Crews are continuing to plow roads and with the improved weather today should make significant gains on these routes.
We’re still under a Level Two Snow Emergency and we ask for everyone to please stay in and avoid travel if at all possible. We hope to move to a level one by this afternoon.
Temperatures dropped well below zero overnight with Louisa at -3, Adams -6 and Fallsburg -7 as of 6 AM. We did open a warming center at the Lawrence County Community Center for a gentleman that experienced issues with his hearing system. The warning center will likely be going back to standby status later today.
At these temperatures salt will not work and it makes the clearing process even harder for our road crews.
If you must be out please take your time and be careful. Allow extra room between you and other vehicles and be sure to watch for snow plows and give them plenty of room.
Let’s all hope the sun comes out and we reach the upper 30s today. The weekend may not be as warm as first thought but it still looks to be significantly warmer than recent days.
Michael Woods
Director Lawrence County EMA
On Jan 17, 2018, at 10:04 PM, Michael Woods <lawcokyem@gmail.com>; wrote:
WARMING CENTER OPEN
Due to the current weather and having one gentleman needing assistance do to hearing problems we’ve opened up the Lawrence County Community Center as a warming Center for the night.
Michael Woods
Director Lawrence County EMA
On Jan 17, 2018, at 5:58 PM, Michael Woods <lawcokyem@gmail.com>; wrote:
Situational Update 5:45 PM 1-17-18 #KYWX
City of Louisa Street Department, Lawrence County Road Department and KYTC District 12 crews in Lawrence County have done a great job as they’ve been working around the clock on clearing roads.
Most state A routes are in good shape but still have snow and ice in places.
The B-D routes routes having gradually more snow as per route type as they haven’t received as much treatment.
Secondary roads and streets that have been plowed are improving but all secondary routes are likely to be snow and ice covered until we see some sun and warmer temperatures over the upcoming days.
We still are under a Level Two Snow Emergency and we ask for everyone to please stay in and avoid travel if at all possible. We hope to move to a level one during the day tomorrow.
Temperatures dropped to zero last night before warming back to the upper single digits when clouds moved back in. We can expect lows to be in the single digits one more night before the warm up begins. At these temperatures salt will not work as well and it makes the clearing process even harder for our road crews.
If you must be out please just take your time and be careful. Allow extra room between you and other vehicle and be sure to watch for snow plows and give them plenty of room.
Currently we’re unaware of any major utility problems in the county and we have locations ready for warming centers if the need arises.
On Wed, Jan 17, 2018 at 1:44 AM, Michael Woods <lawcokyem@gmail.com>; wrote:
At 04:00 we will be returning to a LEVEL TWO SNOW EMERGENCY. #KYWX
Roadways are still considerably snow and ice covered and we recommend that you refrain from driving today unless necessary. This will give road crews more time and room to clear roads. Temperatures are currently below zero in the county and will only reach the upper teens to low 20s today. At these temperatures salt doesn’t work as well so we’ll continue to have issues with snow and ice even on primary routes. Secondary routes are likely to remain in bad shape until at least Thursday.
Level two snow emergency means the following:
ROAD CONDITIONS ARE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS DUE TO SNOW AND/OR ICE AND ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ONLY IS ADVISED.
We ask that you contact your employers to find out if your attendance is needed and if not to stay home off the roadways and give crews the time and room they need to clear the roadways.
Additionally we do not have the resources to transport individuals so please don’t tie up emergency lines asking for rides.
According to Lawrence Co. Ky. Emergency Management :
LEVEL 3
Do to road extremely hazardous road conditions we’ve issued a LEVEL 3 SNOW EMERGENCY AND ASK THAT ALL NON EMERGENCY INDIVIDUALS STAY OFF THE ROAD AFTER 6 PM TONIGHT.
We currently have at least 5 inches of snow on the ground around Lawrence County. With additional snow still to fall we will be going to a LEVEL THREE SNOW EMERGENCY for this evening starting at 6 PM.
At level three ONLY EMERGENCY TRAFFIC should be on the roadways. This includes emergency vehicles, emergency personnel i.e. doctors, nurses and other essential medical staff. If you DON’T have an emergency you should not be on the roads after 6 PM this evening. We ask employers to please allow these none essential individuals to leave work earlier or not come in at all. We can’t make anyone allow you off work without order of the Governor but we do ask for businesses to assist with this.
Additionally we do not have the resources to transport individuals so please don’t tie up emergency lines asking for rides.
We will re-evaluate the road status early in the morning. If you are found to be on a county road without an emergency situation you are subject to a fine. This does not include state roadways.
Michael Woods
Director Lawrence County EMA
LEVEL 2
Due to worsening road conditions and more snow to fall we are upgrading to a LEVEL TWO SNOW EMERGENCY FOR LAWRENCE COUNTY.
Please Share!
This means the following:
ROAD CONDITIONS ARE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS DUE TO SNOW AND/OR ICE AND ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ONLY IS ADVISED.
We ask that you contact your employers to find out if your attendance is needed and if not to stay home off the roadways until crews the time and room they need.
WEATHER AND TRAFFIC ALERT: (1:00PM TUESDAY)
According to Lawrence Co.Ky. Emergency Management :
We are declaring a level 1 snow emergency for Lawrence County, KY for Tuesday January 16, 2018 starting at 1 PM.
We haven’t had a snow emergency issued for a couple years so lets refresh everyone with a level 1.
A Level One Snow Emergency: Roadway conditions are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow and are icy.
Cautious driving is advised if you must travel.
We ask that if you can reschedule or delay any travel this afternoon and evening that you do so. We’ve started getting reports of some minor accidents and roads are likely to only become worse as more snow falls.
If conditions continue to worsen we may have to elevate to a Level 2 Emergency.
DOT says crews are out clearing highways
District 12 Highway Dept. spokesperson Sara George said crews have been out since midnight and will continue to be on the roads 24 hours a day until the snow has been completely cleared.
“Right now our crews are running 12 hour shifts to ensure that the roads are maintained in Lawrence County,” George said. “We ask that everyone stay home unless it is an absolute emergency, that way our crews can do their job and more safely. If you must travel remember a few things, be prepared to drive very slowly, make sure your vehicle is filled with gas, maintain your tire pressure for the road conditions, make sure your headlights and taillights are cleaned for visibility.”
“We pride ourselves in this community on helping others. If you see an emergency don’t pass it up, do what you can to help. Stay off of your phones and make sure that your full attention is on driving.”
As of right now, The National Weather Service is giving snow until 7pm. Keep in mind that as long as the snow is falling, the trucks cannot plow a paved road. The state trucks will treat the roads until the snow stops, then proceed to plow.
EVERYONE STAY SAFE, AND KEEP BLANKETS AND EXTRA CLOTHING FOR AN EMERGENCY!
No school Wednesday in Lawrence Co., Ky
All Lawrence County Schools will be CLOSED on Wednesday, January 17, 2018.
This will NOT be a Non-Traditional Instruction Day for students.
This will NOT be a Flexible Professional Development Day for teachers and staff.
Thanks,
Vernon Hall
Director of Pupil Personnel & District Personnel
Lawrence County Schools
