(COLUMBIA, MO) - The City of Columbia is continuing to monitor and respond to winter weather.

As winter weather can be unpredictable, residents are encouraged to closely monitor the forecast and changing road conditions throughout the mid-Missouri area.

Residents are urged to avoid unnecessary travel during active winter weather events to help keep roadways clear and safe. If travel is unavoidable, drive cautiously by keeping speeds low, increasing stopping distances, avoiding sudden braking or acceleration and refraining from tailgating. Ensure your vehicle is equipped with appropriate tires, clear all snow and ice from windows and use headlights to improve visibility.

Updates will be posted on the City's various social media accounts. Information and updates are also available at CoMo.gov.

City of Columbia Public Works
Contact: John Ogan, [email protected]create new email

A crew of 33 City of Columbia Public Works snowplow operators has been on duty since 7 a.m. whose primary focus has been on keeping first and second priority routes in passable condition. A crew of 27 operators will relieve them at 7 p.m. and will focus on plowing first, second and third priority roads as snow continues to fall throughout the evening.

Please continue to refrain from parking on priority roads. Once two inches of accumulations are reached, any vehicles parked on these roads may be ticketed or towed to ensure snowplows can operate effectively. Priority snow routes can be identified by red, white and blue signs or by using the Street and Snow Route Priority Viewer map available at CoMoSnow.com.

To receive timely alerts about parking restrictions and when parking can resume on snow routes, sign up at Alerts.CoMo.gov. Notifications are available by text, email or automated phone call.

Go COMO Transit
Contact: John Ogan, [email protected]create new email

A decision on whether Go COMO fixed-route bus services will operate Monday, Jan. 6, will be made by 6 p.m. Sunday. The decision will be shared through a text alert, by social media and through the ETA SPOT app. Riders can stay informed by visiting CoMo.gov and clicking the Winter Storm Information banner and by signing up for Go COMO Transit text alerts at Alerts.CoMo.gov.

Paratransit operations may experience delays until later in the week due to untreated residential roads. More information will be shared as soon as it is available via press release and through CoMo.gov. In the case of an emergency, please call 911.

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City of Columbia Utilities
Contact: Jason West, [email protected]create new email

City of Columbia Utilities will have additional crews on standby for the potential of downed power lines. The strong winds and weight of snow or ice on power lines and tree limbs could cause sporadic power outages.

City of Columbia Utilities also recognizes the potential for water main breaks because of low temperatures that are forecast. In the case of a water main break occurring, crews are on standby and will work to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Customers who come under a precautionary boil advisory will receive a hang tag.

At this time, the Solid Waste Utility expects to run trash and recycling collection routes Monday as scheduled. To help ensure that trash collection and snow removal can take place efficiently, please follow these guidelines on roll cart placement: CoMo.gov/city-source/december-2024/roll-cart-placement-winter-weather.

Columbia Police Department
Contact: [email protected]create new email

Due to hazardous traveling conditions, Columbia Police have implemented the delayed crash report protocol and will only be responding to crashes involving serious injuries or criminal elements.

If you are involved in a non-emergency accident, please call 311 or report online.

All vehicles that have been responded to as part of a delayed crash report will be marked with crime scene tape and towed when weather conditions improve.

As the hazardous weather continues, we ask that you slow down, increase distance between cars, accelerate and decelerate slowly, wear a seatbelt and take all other precautions to keep yourself and others safe.

Residents should also not leave vehicles running while unattended. While you may be trying to warm your vehicle or defrost your windshield, a vehicle left running unattended for even a few minutes is at risk for theft.

Columbia Fire Department
Contact: [email protected]create new email

The Columbia Fire Department has deployed additional personnel and units to handle increased call volumes and assist residents as needed.

Residents are encouraged to inspect their heaters and ensure they are in optimal working conditions, as well as confirm that their riser rooms are properly heated to prevent freezes. Residents should also seal off any drafts from the exterior of their buildings, and any areas susceptible to cold drafts.

If your facility has a wet pipe fire sprinkler system, make sure that it is in a heated area, maintaining a minimum temperature of 40 degrees fahrenheit or higher. Doing so prevents frozen pipes.

For facilities with dry pipe sprinkler systems, regularly inspect and drain all low point drains to prevent freeze-ups.

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If you need the Fire Department dispatched to your location, please call 911 for emergencies and 311 for non-emergencies.

Columbia Regional Airport
Contact: Mike Parks, [email protected]create new email

Due to deteriorating conditions, American Airlines does not have any commercial flights scheduled to land or take off from Columbia Regional Airport Sunday, Jan. 5.

Crews are actively working to address the runway conditions to ensure it will be ready for flight operations when they resume on Monday.

Passengers flying through Columbia Regional Airport (COU) can check their flight status at FlyCOU.com. Flight information is provided by the airlines and updated every 15 minutes. Also, remember to allow for extra time driving to the airport when flights resume as local roads may also be impacted by the weather.

Public Health
Contact: Sara Humm, [email protected]create new email or Austin Krohn, [email protected]create new email

Several warming centers and shelters are planning to be open regardless of weather conditions. Due to changing conditions, it is recommended to check with the location before going. Daniel Boone Regional Library will be closed Sunday, Jan. 5 and will not be available as a warming center. Wilkes Boulevard United Methodist Church will host an overnight warming center from 7 p.m. - 7 a.m. Regular Sunday services will be canceled. The Red Cross will be at Memorial Baptist Church and will be on standby to assist stranded travelers.

Animal Control will only respond to extreme emergencies at this time, such as a vicious dog running loose, a gravely injured animal or a bat inside a home. Reports can be made by calling 573.449.1888. Response times may be delayed depending on road conditions. Residents are encouraged to bring pets inside during extreme weather.

City of Columbia Parks and Recreation
Contact: Tammy Miller, [email protected]create new email

The City's Activity & Recreation Center (ARC) closed early at 3 p.m. Sunday and will have a delayed opening Monday, Jan. 6 at 10 a.m. All group fitness classes (land and water) scheduled for Monday morning will be canceled, as well as the Little Gymmers program. Classes that are scheduled for the afternoon should proceed, however, patrons are encouraged to call the ARC at 573.874.7700 for potential additional updates.

Neighborhood Services
Contact: Leigh Kottwitz, [email protected]create new email

Residents are reminded to remove snow from sidewalks adjacent to the property they own or rent. Sidewalks are used by residents to get to school, work and shopping. The City appreciates the effort to keep our sidewalks accessible.

City of Columbia Office of Sustainability
Contact: Michael J. Heimos, [email protected]create new email

The City of Columbia Office of Sustainability would like to remind residents of several tips when using salt. For best results, salt should be applied to cleared surfaces. Additionally, more salt does not mean more melting. It is recommended to use less than 4 pounds of salt per 1,000 square feet.

Following a winter weather event, residents are encouraged to sweep up any extra salt that is visible on dry pavement in order to avoid that salt being washed into local streams through a storm drain or ditch system.

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