Weather report by Ashley Tye, Emergency Management Director @ LCC 2014-01-28

Lowndes County’s Emergency Management Director reported yesterday on projected icy roads today.

Here’s the video:


Weather report by Ashley Tye, Emergency Management Director
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 28 January 2014.

All the local schools are closed, public and private, K-12 and college, so the best thing to to is to stay home.

Commissioner John Page said a constituent had just asked him if Lowndes County owned any snow plows. Answer: no, but the county can get access to them if needed.

County Clerk Paige Dukes enumerated ways she had tried to get the word out, including this information on the county’s front web page, which will probably disappear without trace in a day or so, so I’ve copied it below.

-jsq

Due to current weather conditions and the projected forecast, Lowndes County Government Offices will close for the day at 3:00 p.m. In addition, offices will not reopen until 10:00 a.m. in the morning.

COLD WEATHER UPDATE:
January 27, 2014 – According to the Tallahassee Division of the National Weather Service, current forecasts indicate Lowndes County will experience precipitation beginning Tuesday afternoon accompanied by possible freezing temperatures Tuesday night.  Early Wednesday morning is expected to bring freezing rain and possibly sleet, with chances for snow mixed with freezing rain during afternoon and evening hours.  These conditions could pose travel hazards beginning Tuesday evening.  Citizens are encouraged to prepare their homes and businesses for freezing temperatures and light accumulation. 
 
Motorists should avoid roadways during extreme conditions.  If traveling cannot be avoided, proceed slowly and remain aware of surroundings at all times.  In the event motorists find themselves in icy conditions, the Georgia Department of Transportation offers the following:
  • Stay off roads if travel is not necessary.
  • Slow down to at least half your normal speed and use a low gear as you drive.
  • Tap the brakes to avoid uncontrolled spins.
  • Beware of black ice especially on bridges and overpasses.
  • Watch out for over-confident and under-experienced drivers. 
At the greatest risk are the elderly, the homeless, and those that may not have adequate heat available to protect them from the extreme temperatures. Currently, the following shelters are available for those that need a warm place to stay at night when the temperatures are at their lowest:

 

Mission Point Church – Corner of Ashley St and Hill Ave

 

LAMP – 601 N Lee St  (Women Only)

(229) 253-1519 

 

Salvation Army – 317 Virginia Ave (Men Only)

(229) 244-5669

  

Based on the forcast information the following closings have been announced:

  

Lowndes County Schools

Valdosta City Schools

All local private schools

Wiregrass Technical College- Classes cancelled beginning at 5PM tonight and all day tomorrow. Regular schedule resumes on Thursday.

Georgia Military College- Normal class schedule tonight. Classes cancelled in the morning and office should open by 3:30PM for afternoon classes.

Valdosta State University- Closing 5:30PM on Tuesday and will resume normal schedules Thursday morning.

Lowndes County Health Department will be closed all day tomorrow.

City of Remerton offices will open at 12PM.

South GA Regional Library branches will close at 5PM and reopen on Thursday.

Valdosta-Lowndes Parks and Recreation Offices will delay opening until 10AM.