COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. — As the entire region braces for the incoming Arctic blast, Columbia County is taking extra precautions to ensure public safety.
The County EMA Director told Action News Jax their biggest concerns are the potential for roads to freeze and the risk of power outages.
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Columbia County is sparing no effort to prepare and ensure public safety.
“Our Public Works crew they’ve been working prepping roads, getting them ready via sand, and those kind of things part of potential rainfall, freezing rain that may be coming in overnight,” Shayne Morgan, Columbia County’s Emergency Management Director, said.
Morgan said schools and government buildings will be closed on Wednesday. He’s also urging residents to stay off the roads.
“If you do have to go to work, please use caution as you’re going to your workplace, but the best bet is if you don’t have to be out on the roadway, please don’t,” Morgan said.
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He also warned of the danger posed by ice forming on power lines and trees, which could lead to downed lines and widespread power outages.
“We had us some more type of event in January 2018 where icicles [formed] from the rain falling on the powerlines so as the heat of the day, the ice melted and it did cause some power outages,” he said.
County officials have been hard at work all day preparing services for an area not typically accustomed to snow-like conditions.
Morgan also stresses that if you encounter a downed power line or tree, do not call 911. Instead, contact your local power provider for assistance.
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