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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;">January 5, 2025</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Sydney Olsen
<br />Engagement and Public Communications Manager
<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 weather update, Jan. 5, 8 p.m.</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - The City of Columbia is continuing to monitor and respond to winter weather. As a result of current conditions, several City services will be impacted Monday, Jan. 6.<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. <br /><br />Updates will be posted on the City's various social media accounts. Information and updates are also available at <a href="https://www.como.gov/">CoMo.gov</a>.<br /><br /><br /><strong>City of Columbia Public Works</strong><br /><strong>Contact: <em>John Ogan, John.Ogan@CoMo.gov</em></strong><br /><br />A crew of 27 City of Columbia Public Works snowplow operators has been on duty since 7 p.m. Precipitation is continuing and crews will focus on maintaining first, second and third priority routes in passable condition throughout the night.<br /><br />
Residents are urged to avoid unnecessary travel during any active winter weather event. For the Monday morning commute, drivers should exercise caution by keeping speeds low, increasing stopping distances, avoiding sudden braking or acceleration and refraining from tailgating.<br /><br />Please continue to park any vehicles off priority routes 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 <a href="https://www.como.gov/public-works/street-division/comosnow/">CoMoSnow.com</a>. <br /><br />To receive timely alerts about parking restrictions and when parking can resume on snow routes, sign up at <a href="https://www.smart911.com/smart911/ref/reg.action?pa=COMOALERT">Alerts.CoMo.gov</a>. Notifications are available by text, email or automated phone call.<br /><br /><strong>Go COMO Transit</strong><br /><strong>Contact: <em>John Ogan, John.O
gan@CoMo.gov</em></strong><br /><br />Go COMO fixed-route bus service will start at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 6. Service will operate on a Saturday schedule, starting with the blue, orange and red routes.<br /><br />Paratransit service will not operate Monday, Jan. 6. Go COMO staff will evaluate conditions on neighborhood roads to determine if service can take place Tuesday. In the event of an emergency, Paratransit customers should dial 911.<br /><br /><br /><strong>City of Columbia Utilities</strong><br /><strong>Contact: <em>Jason West, Jason.West@CoMo.gov</em></strong><br /><br />Taking current conditions and staff safety into consideration, refuse and recycling collections are canceled for Monday, Jan. 6. More considerations will be evaluated to determine if refuse collection can occur Tuesday, Jan. 7. Curbside recycling collection is canceled through Wednesday, Jan. 8 for the safety of the collection staff.<br /><br />City of Columbia Utilities will have addition
al 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. <br /><br />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.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Columbia Police Department</strong><br /><strong>Contact: <em>PolicePIO@CoMo.gov</em></strong><br /><br />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.<br /><br />If you are involved in a non-emergency accident, please call 311 or report online.<br /><br />All vehicles that have been responded to a
s part of a delayed crash report will be marked with crime scene tape and towed when weather conditions improve. <br /><br />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.<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 Fire Department</strong><br /><strong>Contact: <em>Fire-PIO@CoMo.gov</em></strong><br /><br />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.<br /><br />For facilities with dry pipe sprinkler systems, regularly inspect and drain all low p
oint drains to prevent freeze-ups.<br /><br />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. <br /><br />If you need the Fire Department dispatched to your location, please call 911 for emergencies and 311 for non-emergencies.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Columbia Regional Airport </strong><br /><strong>Contact: <em>Mike Parks, Michael.Parks@CoMo.gov</em></strong><br /><br />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. <br /><br />Crews are actively working to address the runway conditions and ensure it will be ready for flight operations when they resume on Monday. <br /><br />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 when flights resume as local roads may also be impacted by the weather.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Public Health</strong><br /><strong>Contact: <em>Sara Humm, Sara.Humm@CoMo.gov</em> or <em>Austin Krohn, Austin.Krohn@CoMo.gov</em></strong><br /><br />Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services will have modified hours Monday, Jan. 6 and will be open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.<br /><br />Several <a href="https://www.como.gov/health/public-health-safety/warming-and-cooling-centers/">warming centers and shelters</a> 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. from Jan. 5 - Jan. 9. The Red Cross will be at Memorial Baptist Church and will be on standby to assist stranded travelers.<br /><br />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.<br /><br /><br /><strong>City of Columbia Parks and Recreation </strong><br /><strong>Contact:<em> Tammy Miller, Tammy.Miller@CoMo.gov</em></strong><br /><br />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 mor
ning 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. <br /><br /><strong>Neighborhood Services</strong><br /><strong>Contact: <em>Leigh Kottwitz, Leigh.Kottwitz@CoMo.gov</em></strong><br /><br />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. <br /><br /><br /><strong>City of Columbia Office of Sustainability</strong><br /><strong>Contact: <em>Michael J. Heimos, Michael.Heimos@CoMo.gov </em></strong><br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.</div>
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<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
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