Local law enforcement, WRECC share how to prepare for winter weather
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Winter weather is headed our way, and with that comes a whole host of challenges to those who help keep us safe and warm during times like these.
Our infrastructure can become very vulnerable when met with conditions that we could be seeing, especially if ice becomes a factor.
“The ice is not optimal. When ice gets on the trees or gets on the lines, it can cause the lines to sag. It can cause the trees to break and fall into the line so that we don’t like any of it. We certainly would prefer snow. We hope it turns into all snow. Ice is a little bit more difficult and causes more damage,” said Kim Phelps, senior director of public relations for Warren RECC.
Preparing for the worst is the best thing you can do for yourself before the storm hits this weekend. Checking at home generators, making sure you have enough food and blankets to keep you warm are very important. And while staying off the road is heavily recommended by emergency services.
Preparing for the cold in your car is a must if you have to hit the road oftentimes you don’t have an option.
“I know everyone says stay off the road, don’t go. But but some people just don’t have an option. And so I would tell you, to, to understand what you’re going to be doing, understand when this is going to be starting, have a plan to get there and a plan to get back, but also keep items in your car that will help you in the event that you get stuck,” said BGPD public information officer Ronnie Ward.
Carrying items like hand warmers, water bottles, portable chargers and making sure your car is full of gas are all important. If you have to travel on the road during the storm. It’s also important to remember that emergency services will also be traveling in the same conditions as you are. And while they are preparing to handle these frozen roads, they are also having to remember to keep safe while responding to your calls.
“We deal with the same conditions. Other folks are driving to work and we’re working in these conditions. And and so we are very well aware, we have guys that are putting salt in their cars so that they would have access to that. And because we know that we are always out trying to help people, pushing them out of, ditches or trying to get them unstuck, and then sometimes we get and stuck in the same situation. So we, we sort of ready ourselves for that type of scenario,” Ward said.
BGPD wants to remind drivers that if you do have to drive on the snowy roadways to exercise extreme caution, as they will be looking for people driving recklessly on the roads.
