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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 23, 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, Friday, Dec. 23 at 8:30 a.m.</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <strong>City of Columbia Public Works</strong><br /><em><strong>Contact: John Ogan, John.Ogan@CoMo.gov</strong></em><br /><br />A 30-person City of Columbia Public Works crew reported for duty at 7 a.m. Friday, Dec. 23, to respond to an ongoing winter weather event. Their focus will be on addressing any lingering issues along priority routes. Many City roads will remain snow-packed due to persisting low temperatures which can prevent road salt from having a significant impact.<br /><br />All priority roads have been reported to be in passable condition since Thursday afternoon. As a reminder, a passable road is defined as one that can be traveled by a front-wheel drive vehicle operating at speeds well below posted speed limits using prudent winter weather driving techniques. A snow-covered road can still be considered passable.<br /><br />Dangerous wind chills will range from -20 to -30 degrees tod
ay as gusts near 40 miles per hour. Limit your time outdoors, consider keeping an emergency kit and blankets in your car and remember to keep your cell phone charged.<br /><br />On Saturday, a high temperature of 19 degrees combined with sunshine may begin to activate road salt and break up the snowpack to an extent. As this occurs, the snow will slush up, creating spotty, slick conditions on roadways. Motorists are reminded to reduce their speed and refrain from tailgating others.<br /><br />If possible, please limit non-essential travel. Temperatures for the New Year's Day weekend are expected to be much more favorable if you are able to postpone any of your holiday travel plans until then.<br /><br /><br /><strong>City of Columbia Utilities</strong><br /><em><strong>Contact: Matt Nestor, Matthew.Nestor@CoMo.gov</strong></em><br /><br />The Solid Waste Utility has canceled residential curbside collections and non-essential commercial collections of trash and recycling Frida
y, Dec. 23.<br /><br />Solid Waste crews will collect trash for these routes Friday, Dec. 30. Customers with scheduled bulky item and appliance pickup will be contacted to reschedule. <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 Friday, Dec. 23, and officers are continuing to respond to calls as usual.<br /><br />The Department continues to urge 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>Columbia R
egional Airport </strong><br /><em><strong>Contact: Mike Parks, Michael.Parks@CoMo.gov</strong></em><br /><br />Air travel continues to be impacted across the country due to winter weather. Passengers flying through Columbia Regional Airport (COU) can check their flight status at <a href="https://www.flycou.com/">FlyCOU.com</a>. Flight information is provided by the airlines and updated every 15 minutes. Also, remember to allow for extra time driving to the airport as local roads may also be impacted by the weather.<br /><br /><br /> </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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