Kentucky State Police at Post 9 in Pikeville, Ky. said roads were extremely treacherous yesterday morning. One trooper reported several calls had been weather related and said the high way department had been out working as well.
In formation officer for Highway District 12 Sara George said nearly 200 state workers in Highway District 12 either reported for duty or were put on alert by 4 o’clock Tuesday morning to deal with the winter storm event developing at that time.
“This includes snowplow operators, heavy equipment operators, supervisors who monitor road conditions with vehicles that read ground as well as air temperature, mechanics, traffic signal and sign crews, dispatchers, and staff in the District Office storm command center,” said George. “We anticipate working 24/7 until this weather event is over, which is predicted to be some time late Wednesday or early Thursday.”
George said the biggest concerns Tuesday morning were ice and low visibility. Later in the day, as air temperatures rose, she said downed utility lines and uprooted trees caused dozens of roads to be temporarily impassable. Workers reported that many of the trees were “windshield high,” meaning entire trees were uprooted.
“District 12 is in good shape with plenty of material (rock salt, liquid calcium chloride, salt brine, salt pellets) and equipment that is in excellent condition,” Chief District Engineer Kevin Damron said, “We are ready. Our workforce is committed to keeping our roadways as safe and clear as reasonably possible.”
Belfry, Ky. Volunteer Fire Department Chief Nee Jackson told the Daily News that in his opinion all roads should have been closed yesterday morning.
“At one time when it all came down, it was really bad,” Jackson said. “The icy conditions slowed response time because we’ve got to be able to arrive alive.”
Jackson said for now he is making sure all man-power is in place and all trucks are ready to go.”
West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin sent out a press release asking all state agencies and state offices throughout West Virginia to close at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Manchin did so saying this would allow “employees time to get home before a freezing rain storm is predicted to cause dangerous driving conditions.”
“This applies to all non-essential state agencies and state employees,” Manchin said. “It is widely predicted that ice storms and freezing rain will hit our state later this afternoon and we don’t want our employees facing increasingly dangerous road conditions on their commutes home. While our highway crews have been hard at work all day to keep the roadways safe, this is the type of storm that if you don’t have to be driving in it, then don’t.”
WSAZ-TV chief meteorologist Tony Cavalier said the threat to Mingo County and the Pond Creek area really isn’t ice or sleet at this point but flooding is the main concern.
“The ice problems of earlier are going to correct themselves,” he informed WDN. “Once we get to 6 p.m. (Tuesday) the problem one inch of rain will fall. I think we are looking at flooding.”
Cavalier said by dusk today, the precipitation will change back to sleet and snow.
AccuWeather.com reports rain will begin by 4 p.m. Tuesday and will last throughout the early morning hours Wednesday.
Mingo County Homeland Security Director said his department is trying to stay as prepared as it possible can for anything.
“We are in a ‘hurry up and wait’ position right now,” Fletcher said.
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