Springfield: As winter storm approaches, crews mobilize and encourage residents to avoid travel

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The National Weather Service is forecasting a significant winter storm expected to impact Springfield and Greene County beginning Tuesday. Heavy snowfall, strong winds, and dangerously cold temperatures are anticipated, making travel hazardous and increasing the risk of power outages. Residents are urged to take precautions now and avoid going out unless absolutely necessary.

Forecast Details

Timing: Snow is expected to begin early Tuesday morning and continue throughout the day.

Accumulation: Forecasts indicate 6 to 10 inches of snowfall, with localized higher amounts possible.

Winds: Gusts up to 30 mph may cause blowing and drifting snow, reducing visibility.

Temperatures: Wind chills could drop to dangerous levels below zero, increasing the risk of frostbite and hypothermia.

Avoid Unnecessary Travel

Residents are strongly encouraged to stay home if possible. Road conditions will deteriorate quickly, and emergency response times may be delayed due to hazardous conditions. If travel is absolutely necessary:
  • Check road conditions at MoDOT's Traveler Information Map (www.modot.org) before leaving.
  • Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle, including blankets, food, water, a flashlight, and a phone charger.
  • Drive slowly and leave extra space between vehicles.
  • Leave 500 feet between you and emergency vehicles and do not attempt to pass snow plows.

Prior to travel, ensure your emergency kit is accessible and your vehicle has adequate fuel as there will be delays in the event you need to call a tow truck or emergency services. If your vehicle slides off the road, is safely out of traffic and no one is injured, do not call 911. Please directly call a towing service. In the event of a non-injury accident where vehicles are operational, move the vehicles out of the roadway, exchange information with the other driver, and file a Citizen Crash Report.

If you are involved in an injury accident or the vehicles are not operational and able to be moved safely from the road, call 911.

How to Prepare at Home

Stock Up on Essentials: Have at least three day's worth of food, water, medications, and other necessities.
Prepare for Potential Power Outages: Charge electronic devices, gather extra blankets, and locate flashlights with fresh batteries.
Check Heating Sources: Ensure fireplaces, space heaters, and generators are in good working order. Never use outdoor heating devices indoors due to carbon monoxide risks.

The Springfield Fire Department reminds you to avoid unsafe heating conditions by following these tips:
  • Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from heating equipment like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heaters.
  • Have a 3 feet kid-free zone around open fires and space heaters.
  • Never use your oven to heat your home.
  • Have a qualified professional install heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer's instructions.
  • Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
  • Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
  • Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel-burning space heaters.
  • Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.
  • Test smoke alarms at least once a month.
  • If there is a fire, get out and stay out. Call 9-1-1 to report the fire. Notify the Fire Department when they arrive if anyone or any pets are still inside. Do not attempt to re-enter your structure.

"A working smoke alarm is your first line of defense against a fire. Changing the batteries once every six months and replacing them every 10 years keeps them in working order," Fire Chief David Pennington says.

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While carbon monoxide poisoning is a danger year-round with over 400 fatalities annually nationwide, it becomes more prevalent during the fall and winter months as heating systems are turned on again.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:
  • headache
  • fatigue
  • shortness of breath
  • nausea
  • dizziness
  • mental confusion
  • vomiting
  • loss of muscular coordination
  • loss of consciousness.

Here's what you can do to protect your family from the dangers of carbon monoxide:
  • install and maintain carbon monoxide alarms inside your home to provide early warning.
  • install carbon monoxide alarms in a central location outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of your home.
  • use portable generators outdoors in well-ventilated areas away from all doors, windows and vents.
  • make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove and fireplace are clear of snow and other debris.
  • have your gas burning furnace and water heater by a qualified technician every year
  • have your chimney checked and cleaned every year.
  • never use a gas oven for heating your home.
  • avoid idling a car in the garage for an appreciable length of time.

According to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, space heaters are responsible for one third of home heating fires and about 80% of home heating fire deaths.

Keep Pipes from Freezing: Let faucets drip and open cabinet doors to allow warm air circulation around plumbing.

Public Works & Emergency Crews Preparing

Springfield Public Works, Greene County and MoDOT road crews are preparing to clear and maintain roads. Plans include:

Public Works will mobilize and begin 24 hour operations at midnight. They will begin by pretreating designated snow routes and will continue monitoring and clearing as snow continues to fall.

Approximately 60 Public Works plow drivers will work in 12-hour shifts. They will prioritize major roads and emergency routes. To view a map of designated priority snow routes: https://cosmo.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=cad67a2626e94d7a98e536f3fb63b73c&fbclid=IwY2xjawIglt5leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHczAGUS8KIFM5FkvwqYtUD_ToFii3tQuhKnUOzOBPyHRxt82KKqgKCzqxw_aem_DnxRzJ9l-1qLWKIoxeM64Q

Residents are asked to avoid parking on streets to allow plows to clear roads.

Power Supply

While all areas of City Utilities are taking steps to ensure that service interruptions are minimized, the expected levels of snow accumulation and extreme temperatures could impact services provided by City Utilities and the Southwest Power Pool (SPP).

CU is taking several steps to minimize potential impacts to customers. Crews from every service area will be on standby and ready to respond if services are disrupted. Highly trained teams are prepared to handle emergencies 24/7/365. In the event customers experience a power outage, report the outage through the MY ACCOUNT system or by calling 1-888-863-9001.

With the amount of snow expected to fall, transit routes and schedules could also be affected, and CU Transit riders are encouraged to follow CU Transit on social media channels.

If necessary, CU will provide emergency text notifications to customers. To stay informed of changing conditions, customers are encouraged to download the City Utilities' MY ACCOUNT app and sign up for notifications available through that platform.

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During winter months, precautions may be necessary to keep outdoor natural gas equipment cleared and working efficiently. Snow and ice can block regulators and relief valves, preventing them from functioning properly. Chimneys and vents for natural gas appliances must be cleared following a major storm to enable proper venting and to prevent carbon monoxide accumulation. Use a broom to carefully sweep snow and ice from your gas meter. Never use a shovel or kick the meter to break or clear ice. Damage to the meter could cause dangerous problems.

Before the winter storm arrives, now is the time to take steps to prepare and brush up on winter safety tips:
  • Sign up for My ACCOUNT at https://www.cityutilities.net/myaccount/ and turn on notifications to stay informed. If you already have MY ACCOUNT, take time to make any updates.
  • Seal drafts: Check windows and doors for air leaks and use weatherstripping or towels to block them.
  • Protect your pipes: Allow faucets to drip and open cabinet doors to keep warm air circulating around pipes.
  • Be prepared for any potential outages: Keep flashlights, extra batteries, and blankets handy. In the event of an outage, call 1-888-863-9001 to report or by using the My Account app.
  • Care for pets: Bring them inside or ensure they have proper shelter, food, and water.

The Southwest Power Pool (SPP), of which CU is a member, is a regional transmission organization that manages the electric grid and coordinates power generation and transmission across 17 central and western U.S. states to ensure reliable and cost-effective energy delivery.

Warming and Overnight Crisis Cold Weather Shelters for the Homeless are coordinated by the Ozarks Alliance to End Homelessness and managed by Community Partnership of the Ozarks. Shelters are in urgent need of volunteers.

Individuals seeking a meal and shelter should go to the Veterans Coming Home Center, located at 806 N. Jefferson Ave., by 5:30 p.m. and from there will be transported to one of the Crisis Cold Weather Shelter locations. This includes a Day Center building, located at 809 N. Campbell that will act as a special emergency shelter from Feb. 18-20.

For details, call 417-290-3110.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:  Please email [email protected] if you are able to volunteer at a Crisis Cold Weather Shelter during this time.

For continuing winter weather information, follow: https://www.facebook.com/SpringfieldGreeneOEM

https://www.facebook.com/CityofSGF

https://www.facebook.com/MoDOT.Southwest

https://www.facebook.com/cityutilities.net

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Media contacts: Cora Scott, Director of Public Information at City of Springfield: 417-380-3352 or [email protected]; Joe Geldermann at the Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management at 502-777-9937, Joel Alexander at City Utilities at 417-830-1777 or [email protected] or Melody Shuck at Community Partnership of the Ozarks at 785-342-5768 or [email protected].

Filed Under: Government, City
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