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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">P.O. BOX 6015 COLUMBIA, MO 65205</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">December 20, 2022</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Sydney Olsen
<br />Public Information Officer
<br />City Manager's Office
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.874.7438
<br />Sydney.Olsen@CoMo.gov</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">City of Columbia monitoring for chance of winter weather beginning Dec. 22</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - The City of Columbia is monitoring and preparing to respond to winter weather that could impact the mid-Missouri area beginning Thursday, Dec. 22. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a winter storm watch and a wind chill watch with heavy snow and winds that could gust as high as 50 mph causing whiteout conditions and wind chills as low as 30 below zero. <br /><br />City resources will be utilized to ensure the safety and well-being of our community. The Public Works department is prepping snowplows, materials and equipment; monitoring local, state and regional forecasts; and preparing a response plan. City of Columbia Utilities will have additional crews on standby for the potential of downed power lines. The strong winds and weight of snow and ice on power lines and tree limbs could cause sporadic power outages. <br /><br />City of Columbia Utilities also recognizes the potenti
al for water main breaks because of extreme 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.<br /><br />As winter weather can be unpredictable, residents are encouraged to closely monitor the forecast and changing road conditions throughout the mid-Missouri area. Residents may want to run errands and shop for groceries early to avoid travel during inclement weather. <br /><br />Updates will be posted on the City's various social media accounts. Information and updates are also available at CoMo.gov.<br /><br /><strong>Impacts to emergency winter warming centers, shelters</strong><br /><br />Room at the Inn, 1509 Ashley St., will open at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23, due to the anticipated extreme cold weather. The shelter will remain open from 1 p.m. Dec. 23 through 9 a.m. Monday, Dec. 26
. <br /><br />Room at the Inn is in need of volunteers to help cover shifts over the holiday weekend. For more information or to sign up, please visit: <a href="https://roomattheinncomo.org/volunteer">https://roomattheinncomo.org/volunteer</a>.<br /><br />The warming center Turning Point, at Wilkes Boulevard United Methodist Church, 702 Wilkes Blvd., will be closed Saturday, Dec. 24, and Sunday, Dec. 25. <br /><br />The daytime drop-in center at Turning Point will also be closed Dec. 26 in observance of the holiday. <br /><br />The overnight warming center at Turning Point will open Dec. 26 if temperatures are forecasted at or below 25 degrees Fahrenheit. <br /><br />Due to offices being closed in observance of the holiday, the only daytime warming centers that will be open during normal business hours Dec. 26 will be the City of Columbia Activity and Recreation Center (ARC), 1701 W. Ash St., and Salvation Army Harbor House, 602 N. Ann St.<br /><br />More infor
mation on shelter and warming centers can be found on the City's website: <a href="https://www.como.gov/health/public-health-safety/warming-and-cooling-centers/">CoMo.gov/health/public-health-safety/warming-and-cooling-centers/</a>.</div>
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<div style="margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align:center;"><p>City of Columbia Vision<br>
<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
<em>To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
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