Winter is coming, again.
Emergency planners are on high alert in Shelby County as sleet, freezing rain, and snow move in.
Officials from MLGW, public works, law enforcement, fire, and the Shelby County Health Department will be tracking “weather-related concerns” today and through the evening, said Dale Lane, director of the Shelby County Office of Preparedness.
Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell and Memphis Mayor A. C. Wharton Jr. will get regular updates on the weather from the team as the event proceeds.
Luttrell said he will sign an emergency declaration letter today that will allow for special purchases to respond to the storm. The city of Memphis will open a warming center at 7 p.m. at the Orange Mound Community Center, 2572 Park Avenue. It will be open from 7 p.m. – 7 a.m. through Saturday morning.
“I want to appeal to the citizens of our city to do what they do best in times of challenge – step up to the plate to assist those in need,” Wharton said in a statement. “There are enough warm hearts filled with compassion to reach out to those in the cold.
“As much as our city officials, police officers, and personnel who aid the homeless will be on alert and engaged, the extended hands and hearts of local citizens can exponentially increase our capacity to help those who need assistance during this winter storm. There is a role for us all to play to ensure everyone is kept warm and safe.”
Rain began to fall around noon Wednesday and temperatures will continue to drop through the day. Also, wind gusts could range between 30 mph and 40 mph, according to the Shelby County Office of Preparedness.
“That could bring down utility lines and snap tree limbs,” said Lane. “Our concern would be possible power outages, impassable roads and stranded motorists.
Bitter cold temperatures will continue through Saturday. Tomorrow night’s low could be in the single digits. People need to keep a close watch on those who live alone, especially the elderly and disabled, Lane said.
For more information about preparing for winter weather, go to the Shelby County Office of Preparedness HLS/EMA Facebook Group or Twitter@SCOP_HLS_EMA or call (901) 222-6700.
Meanwhile, the Tennessee Valley Authority is also readying to respond to the coming wintry weather.
“Although the temperatures don’t appear to be dropping as low as we saw during the cold snaps in January and February, we still expect a much higher demand for power than we typically see in the first week of March,” said Jacinda Woodward, senior vice president of TVA Transmission and Power Supply. “As we take steps to ensure our system is ready, consumers can also take steps that can save them money on upcoming power bills.”
• Turning down your home’s thermostat one degree will save 3 percent on energy bills
• Keeping curtains open on clear days on the south side of the house, and closed on the north side, to allow the sun to help warm your home,
• Closing fireplace dampers when not in use to prevent warm air from escaping out of your chimney
• Using slippers or area rugs to keep your feet warm if you have hardwood or tile floors rather than turning up your heating system.
