[Press Release] : Columbia/Boone County Emergency Managers Discourage Travel

[pr-l at news.gocolumbiamo.com]

EMERGNECY MEDIA RELEASE 

Contact: 

Battalion Chief Steven Sapp, 573-874-7557 – office, 573-219-0572 – mobile 

or 

Division Chief Gale Blomenkamp, 573-447-5000 – office, 573-219-0677 - mobile 

Columbia/Boone County Emergency Managers Discourage Travel

COLUMBIA, MO (12/01/2006 ) - Columbia and Boone County Emergency Managers met this morning to discuss the delivery of emergency and essential services after last night’s snowfall. Law enforcement, fire, EMS, and other managers are working together to provide services. 

STAY HOME. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL. 

Do not attempt to travel until advised by local emergency managers that roadways have been plowed and are open. At 10:30 am, MoDOT has closed I-70 and Highway 63 to remove stalled and stuck vehicles so that plowing operations can be conducted. 

Vehicles on the road are hindering crews trying to clear the roads. Stalled vehicles don’t allow crews to adequately clear roads. Vehicle traffic on roads that have been plowed for one lane block emergency vehicles from responding. 

Law enforcement agencies may ticket drivers on the road. 

STAY HOME. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL. 

MoDOT, County, and City road crews have joined in a cooperative effort and will plow roads they are on no mater what jurisdiction maintains the roadway. 

Folks needing social services such as Meals on Wheels and Home Health care are urged to contact their providers for information. If you rely on social services for meals, ect and can not reach them, you may call the Columbia/Boone County Emergency Management office at 874-7470. 

Emergency providers remind everyone that responses will be delayed. Efforts are being made to locate additional four-wheel drive vehicles and snow mobiles which may be the only way some residences in rural areas can be reached. Both the University of Missouri and Boone Hospital Center have brought in additional staff to answer calls. 

Boone County Fire District and the Columbia Fire Department are using their own snow plow equipped vehicles to clear roads and driveways if needed during emergency response. State, County, and City road departments will assist law enforcement, fire, and EMS providers if needed. Fire and law enforcement agencies will respond to all emergency calls and will get to you. The response from both departments may be delayed. Emergency responders in the Harrisburg area reported drifts of over four (4) feet in some areas. Even in the City of Columbia, emergency responders have reported drifts of two (2) feet or more blocking some roads. 

Again, stay off the roads and don’t travel until emergency managers and officials have stated it is okay to do so. The sooner roads are plowed, the sooner business and other non-essential services can resume. 

Another update will be issued as needed or around mid-afternoon today. 

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