With an imposing winter storm expected to hit the Northern Kentucky region, Boone County road crews and first responders are gearing up in anticipation.
To prepare for the winter storm, officials in Boone County are advising citizens to hunker down and take caution. One of the most essential jobs during winter storms is ensuring public roadways are safe and clear for travel. Boone County, specifically, has over 500 miles of roadway to maintain.
Boone County Engineer Rob Franxman said that public works crews have already salted many of the county’s major roads. Additionally, he noted that public works crews already have salt trucks loaded up in anticipation of the winter storm.
“We do have a nice pre-treatment down on all of our roadways right now,” Franxman said. “You know, whether it be our major collector roadways or subdivisions or back roads, everything has salt on it already.”
Over the past year and a half, Boone County has deployed calcium chloride to help rock salt last longer. This liquid is sprayed onto the salt and spread out of the back of trucks.
“That does two things – it activates that rock salt and gets it more efficient in melting ice,” Franxman said. “Then the calcium chloride itself actually is effective at a lower temperature, so that calcium chloride addition essentially allows us to be more effective at treating snow and ice at lower temperatures.”
Kevin Vogelpohl, director of Boone County’s Emergency Management, advised county residents to diligently check all available information sources regarding weather, safety and travel alerts.
“Listen to what the weather people are saying,” he said. “Listen to the meteorologists. Listen to your local officials if they tell you that the conditions aren’t safe. We work very diligently with all of our partners – law enforcement, fire, EMS, public works, the hospitals – everything to ensure that we’re prepared to respond.”
He noted that even though first responders don’t take days off, inclement weather, such as large amounts of snow or ice, can adversely affect their ability to respond immediately.
Winter storms can also affect essential home utility services such as heat and electricity. If the power goes out, he advised county residents to have blankets ready and around 72 hours’ worth of canned food that can be eaten without being heated.
“Understand that when you get a heavy snow load, heavy ice load, there is a potential for utility interruptions that come along with those,” he said.
Regarding people’s cars, Vogelpohl recommended that people carry around water, blankets, and portable charging devices for cellular phones.
Key items to have on hand:
- Extra blankets
- First-aid kit
- Canned and non-cook items such as bread, crackers and dried fruit
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Rock salt to melt ice on the driveway
- Cell phone with a charged portable charger
In your home:
- Make sure smoke alarms and weather radios have fresh batteries.
- Use space heaters safely by keeping them away from curtains and furniture.
- Always use generators outside and far from windows and doors to prevent harmful fumes.
- Never turn your stove on for heat.
- Don’t store gasoline indoors where fumes could ignite.
In your car:
- Pack an emergency kit with water, snacks, a blanket, a shovel and kitty litter or salt for traction if you get stuck on ice.
- Check tire pressure, ensure you have antifreeze, and keep your gas tank at least half-full to prevent fuel lines from freezing.
Watch or listen to weather updates on the news or a weather radio and understand the different levels of snow emergencies.
Level one
- Conditions: Roadways are hazardous with blowing and/or drifting snow, roadways may be icy.
- Advisory: Cautious driving is advised.
Level two
- Conditions: Roadways are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow and roadways may be icy.
- Advisory: Only motorists whose travel is necessary should be on the roadways. Residents are urged to contact their employer to see if they should report to work.
Level three
- Conditions: All roadways are restricted to emergency personnel, travel for work, provisions, medical supplies or medical treatment, and private snow removal operations.
- Advisory: Essential travel only is advised. Violators are subject to prosecution. Residents are urged to contact their employers concerning work schedules.
Warming centers available for through Jan. 10:
- Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky, located at 436 West 13th in Covington.
This is an adult only facility. Open Sunday through Tuesday daytime and overnight warming shelter. Tuesday through Friday Morning, they will provide overnight warming shelter only. Any questions can be directed to (859) 291-4555. - Fort Mitchell City Building: Council Chambers, 2355 Dixie Highway. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
- Edgewood City Building: Council Chambers, 385 Dudley Road. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
- Fort Wright City Building: Council Chambers, 409 Kyles Lane. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
- Independence City Building: Council Chambers, 5409 Madison Pike. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
- Piner Fiskburg Fire District: Training Room, 1851 Bracht Piner Road. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
- Kenton County Administration Building: In the second-floor training room, 1840 Simon Kenton Way Covington. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
