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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 22, 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 winter storm update, Thursday, Dec. 22 at 8:30 a.m.</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - The National Weather Service reports a winter storm warning will remain in effect until midnight. Snow accumulations could be between 1 and 3 inches with winds gusting as high as 45 mph. Drivers should use caution as visibility could drop below ¼ of a mile due to blowing snow. <br /><br />City officials will utilize all available resources in responding to the storm and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our community members. <br /><br />Updates will continue to be posted to CoMo.gov, as well as the City's various social media accounts. <br /><br /><strong>Cancellations/Postponements:</strong><br /><br />Stephens Lake Park clinic (Dec. 22), rescheduled for Dec. 29.<br /><br /><br /><strong>City of Columbia Public Works</strong><br /><em><strong>Contact: John Ogan, John.Ogan@CoMo.gov</strong></em><br /><br />After a partial crew came in at 4 a.m. to prepare City vehicles for
service, a crew of 30 snowplow workers reported for duty at 5 a.m. Thursday morning in anticipation of the arrival of winter weather. <br /><br />Crews have been applying salt to roads Thursday morning in order to aid with traction, especially in typical problem areas such as bridges, curves, hills and intersections. As the morning progresses, temperatures have dropped dramatically and salt is expected to gradually lose its effect. By noon, salt is expected to have almost no effect at all and the only road treatment available to crews will be physically plowing the snow.<br /><br />Crews will be primarily focused on first, second and third priority roads, which are the main arterial and collector routes across the City. Residents can assist crews by refraining from parking on any road displaying red, white and blue snow route signs, and parking off the road and in a driveway whenever possible.<br /><br />Please avoid travel if at all possible during this and all winter
weather events. If you must travel, please use extreme caution, keep your headlights on at all times and give plenty of following distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. Plan for very slippery conditions with limited visibility due to the high winds and widespread blowing snow, especially during the Thursday morning and evening commutes.<br /><br /><br /><strong>City of Columbia Utilities</strong><br /><em><strong>Contact: Matt Nestor, Matthew.Nestor@CoMo.gov</strong></em><br /><br /><br />The Solid Waste Utility plans to run residential curbside refuse collection routes Thursday and Friday as scheduled. The Utility, however, has canceled curbside recycling collection. All residential collection crews will be assigned to refuse collection routes to reduce the number of routes each crew will work and limit workers’ exposure to the weather. The Utility takes the safety of crews seriously and will continue to monitor the weather and make adjustments
to the schedule as needed. Download the CoMo Recycle and Trash app to receive notifications about schedule changes.<br /><br />Customers can take their recycling material to one of our drop-off centers or set it at the curb on their next scheduled collection day.<br /><br />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 potential 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 /><br /><strong>Columbia Police Department</strong><br /><em><strong>Contact: Christian Tabak, PolicePIO@CoMo.gov</strong></em><br /><
br />Columbia Police headquarters remains open Thursday, Dec. 22, and officers are continuing to respond to calls as usual.<br /><br />The Department urges drivers to use extreme caution if travel is necessary. Slow down, increase distance between cars, accelerate and decelerate slowly, and wear a seatbelt. Be sure to clear your vehicle’s windows of snow and ice before driving.<br /><br />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.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Public Health and Human Services</strong><br /><em><strong>Contact: Ryan Sheehan, Ryan.Sheehan@CoMo.gov</strong></em><br /><br />Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services (PHHS), 1005 W. Worley St., will be closed to the public Thursday, Dec. 22. <br /><br />Animal Control will respond to extreme emergencies only, such as a vici
ous 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.<br /><br />WIC and clinic staff were able to reach many residents with appointments to reschedule. Anyone with questions about WIC can email WIC@CoMo.gov or call 573.874.7384 on Friday. Anyone with questions about the clinic can email ClinicSupport@CoMo.gov or call 573.874.7249 on Friday.<br /><br />Residents seeking social services can call 573.817.6430 or email SocialServices@CoMo.gov.<br /><br />Immediate printing of birth and death certificates will be unavailable while the building is closed. Residents can visit vitalchek.com to order online.<br /><br />The City of Columbia has been coordinating with community partners to ensure shelter and warming services are available during the pending winter storm and over the upcoming holiday weekend. The following is a summary of the primary services availa
ble.<br /><br /><strong>Turning Point</strong><br /><br />Turning Point will be open for their normal daytime drop-in center operations 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. through Friday this week. The Turning Point overnight warming center will be open Thursday and Friday nights. Turning Point will be closed Saturday and Sunday. The Turning Point daytime drop-in center will be closed Monday for the holiday. The Turning Point overnight warming center will be open Monday night if the forecasted temperature remains at or below 25 degrees.<br /><br />Room at the Inn<br /><br />Room at the Inn (RATI) will open at 1 p.m. on Friday due to the anticipated extreme cold.<br /><br />RATI will remain open continuously from 1 p.m. Friday through 9 a.m. Monday. RATI will allow suspended guests to stay in the RATI shelter Saturday and Sunday as long as they comply with the shelter rules.<br /><br />Room at the Inn is in need of volunteers to help cover shifts over the holiday weekend. For more informat
ion or to so sign up, please visit: <a href="https://roomattheinncomo.org/volunteer">https://roomattheinncomo.org/volunteer</a><br /><br /><strong>Salvation Army Harbor House</strong><br /><br />The Salvation Army harbor House provides overnight and 24 hour emergency shelter services 7 days/week.<br /><br /><strong>Warming Centers</strong><br /><br />On Monday, Dec. 26, daytime warming center capacity will be limited to the City ARC and the Salvation Army Harbor House.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Columbia Regional Airport </strong><br /><em><strong>Contact: Mike Parks, Michael.Parks@CoMo.gov</strong></em><br /><br />Airlines may cancel flights as weather conditions continue to worsen. 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. </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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