Local officials detail plans as winter storm approaches

Nearly a year to the day after the county’s last winter storm, the first major storm of the year will arrive over the next two days.

Meteorologists with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis say more than six inches of snow and 0.10 inches of ice are possible from Wednesday to Thursday. For areas north of Interstate 70, significant snowfall is likely, while south of I-70, a mix of snow and ice is expected.

Precipitation was expected to begin Tuesday night with rain, then transition to freezing rain, sleet and eventually snow by Thursday. Right now, there’s a gradient across central Indiana for what the precipitation type will be — whether it be snow, ice or a mix — which is a concern, said Randy Bowers, a National Weather Service meteorologist.

“The worst may be north of Johnson County, but some impacts are expected Wednesday and into Thursday,” Bowers said.

The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning Tuesday afternoon for portions of central, east-central, southwest and west-central Indiana, including Johnson County. The warning will be in effect from 7 p.m. today to 1 a.m. Friday.

There will be heavy mixed precipitation and significant impacts, such as power outages and tree damage. Forecasters also warn that travel could be difficult and hazardous and impact commutes, the bulletin says.

The precipitation is likely to change from rain to a wintry mix sometime between 6 and 11 p.m. Wednesday. Based on estimated snowfall totals issued by the weather service Tuesday morning, the county could see anywhere from 3 to 8 inches of snow during the storm.

Though a warning was issued, there is still some uncertainty about the storm’s path, which in turn could impact the amount and types of precipitation. Until the storm hits, people should use the time to think about possible alternatives to their Wednesday and Thursday plans, Bowers said.

Additionally, temperatures are going to plummet. Highs will be in the lower 40s today before dropping to about 13 degrees Thursday night, according to the weather service.

Local utilities all have plans in place to deal with possible issues and outages resulting from the storm.

CenterPoint Energy is monitoring and preparing for worsening weather conditions. The company is encouraging customers to make sure their heating systems are working properly, immediately report suspected gas leaks and use space heaters safely, according to a news release.

Duke Energy is encouraging customers to prepare for possible power outages, and is making plans to ensure they can restore power to affected customers as soon as possible, the company said in a news release.

JCREMC has made its dispatch, engineering and line crews available 24/7 for quick responses, and will reach out to other cooperatives for help if needed, said Jennifer Stewart-Burton, a JCREMC spokesperson.

Johnson County itself, along with the cities of Franklin and Greenwood, are making their own plans to deal with the winter weather as the storm moves in.

The county’s highway department plans to switch to a two 12-hour shift schedule to provide 24-hour coverage during and after the storm, continuing until cleanup is done. Nineteen plow trucks will be deployed during the day, and nine overnight, said Luke Mastin, county highway director.

The storm will be challenging, though, because the county will be unable to pre-treat the roads due to the rain that will occur before the ice and snow. During periods of freezing rain or high rates of snowfall, the primary focus of the highway department will be keeping main roads passable, which could make travel on secondary roads difficult until the storm is over, he said.

County officials are also preparing for blowing and drifting snow in some areas on Friday, even after most of the cleanup is done, Mastin said.

Greenwood’s street department has been working to clear storm drains since Monday, and gave part-time staff Monday and Tuesday off so they can be available the rest of the week, said Kenny Duncan, street superintendent.

Both cities encourage residents to move their vehicles off the streets whenever snow or ice accumulation begins. Residents should also be aware that some roads, such as Interstate 65, U.S. 31 and State Road 135, are maintained by the state, meaning the Indiana Department of Transportation is responsible for treating and plowing them, city officials said.

The Indiana Department of Transportation is at full call for the storm with nearly 1,000 trucks treating and plowing highways across the state. The deployment began Tuesday night and will continue through the duration of the storm and during the cleanup, INDOT announced in a news release.

INDOT will be at a full call with nearly 1,000 trucks treating and plowing highways across the state beginning overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning. Trucks will remain out in full force for the duration of the winter storm and afterword to continue cleanup efforts.

If you need to go out during the storm, you should leave early, take your time and give snow plows plenty of space.

But first responders prefer you stay home, said Mike Pruitt, deputy chief of the Bargersville Community Fire Department.

“The best choice is to stay home. … Hopefully, people will make the choice to stay home if it gets really bad for us,” Pruitt said.

Residents should also take the time before the storm to get the essentials they need, including food, water and prescription refills. Due to the timing of the storm, most people should need just two or three days worth of supplies, he said.

If you know of senior citizens or people who may not be able to get supplies on their own, you should check on them and get them what they need, such as basic food supplies and medications, Pruitt said.

Also, if you plan on treating driveways or sidewalks, you should make sure to treat it at the right time. Residents should wait until they see the rain transition to ice before beginning pre-treatment. Ultimately, the snow will cover that up, but the pre-treatment will act as a base between the two, he said.

“Whether we ultimately see high snow totals or significant ice accumulations, it has been a while since we’ve had a winter storm of this size,” Mastin said. “Everyone should anticipate very difficult driving conditions during this storm and prepare accordingly.”

WINTER STORM SAFETY TIPS

Here are some tips to stay safe during a winter storm.

Home

• Supplies. Make sure you have supplies, including basic essentials such as water and food, a long with extra blankets and flashlights.
• Medications. If you have a prescription that needs refilled, get it refilled before the storm as soon as you can.
• Treating walkways and driveways. If you’re going to treat your sidewalks and driveways, you should wait until the rain transitions over to ice, as the rain will wash away the treatment.
• Power loss. If you lose power, don’t use candles in the home and don’t use gas-powered appliances, such as a stove, to heat your home. If you are planning to use a generator, make sure it is away from the home in an well-ventilated area.
• Shoveling snow. If you’re going to be shoveling snow, make sure to take breaks and hydrate to prevent exhaustion and dehydration. Also make sure to dress in layers and to not spend a lot of time outside.

Car

• Service your car. While first responders prefer you don’t travel during the storm, if you absolutely have to, make sure your car has been serviced. You should make sure your tires are inflated and it is full of fuel.
• Preparing your car. You should make sure your car has basic items, such as water, snacks, blankets and phone chargers, so that you have supplies if you get stranded during the storm.
• Don’t get out. It can be very dangerous for you to leave your car if you get stranded, so first responders encourage you to stay inside your car until help arrives.

Source: Bargersville Community Fire Department 

IF THERE’S AN OUTAGE

Here’s who to contact if you lose gas or power during the storm, along with who to contact about gas leaks.

CenterPoint Energy

To report a natural gas outage or leak, call 713-659-2111 or 800-752-8036.

For reporting a gas leak, you should first go to a safe location, call 911 and then call CenterPoint. You can also call 888-876-5786 to report gas leaks.

Duke Energy

Outages can be reported by texting “OUT” to 57801 or by calling 800-521-2232. You can also report it online at duke-energy.com/outages or through the Duke Energy mobile app.

Edinburgh Power and Light

During office hours, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, Edinburgh Power and Light can be reached at 812-526-3527. For after hours emergencies, call 317-871-2200.

JCREMC

Outages can be reported by calling 317-736-6174 or via via the myJCREMC mobile app.

Town of Bargersville

Outages can be reported by calling 317-422-5115.