County employees praised for winter weather service

When you’re a kid and there’s snow on the ground and school’s called off, the frozen kingdom you survey is a winter wonderland.

Likewise, adults who are able to stay home — maybe in front of a warm fire, enjoying a warm beverage — their occasional glance outside at the snow-covered tundra reinforces their thankfulness that they are protected from January’s harshness.

But for those who do their best to try to keep the community running by clearing roadways and working outdoors in bone-chilling conditions to combat difficult situations, winter’s grandeur is not so grand.

Sequoyah County District 3 Commissioner Jim Rogers points out that “temperatures where they’re at [single digits]” make it especially difficult, not only for employees, but for equipment that doesn’t always function too well under such conditions.

“One thing that we need folks to understand is that when you’ve got that packed snow on the roads and we come with that grader and we knock that top layer off, all we’ve left you is an ice skating rink to drive on,” Rogers explained at Wednesday’s county commissioners meeting. “It’s a lot easier to drive on that packed snow than it is that ice. So we have to wait for the temperatures to get high enough where it actually starts melting, and then we can come in and knock it off without leaving you in a situation like that. But you knock that off, and as soon as the temperatures drop, as soon as nightfall hits and early morning, you’re driving on black ice.

“So we’re trying to be smart about the way we do things, the way we handle things,” Rogers said. “When the weather permits, I promise you we’ll get out there and we’ll knock this off. We salt and we sand and we do what we can with what we have to work with. We did what we could, it’s just so frozen. We try to get all the hot spots — the hills, the intersections, anything we feel is a dangerous situation — we try to address all of those.

“Our guys are out there putting their life on the line to try to save somebody else, trying to protect somebody else. They’re out there in sub-zero temperatures and we’re dealing with dangerous situations out there. I appreciate our employees that saddle up and get out there and address a dangerous situation,” Rogers said in praise of those who answered the call during wintry conditions earlier in the week.

Nightly temperatures in eastern/ northeastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas commonly plummeted into single digits — and in some cases below zero — from Sunday through Thursday, and daytime temperatures often ranged from single digits to high teens.

But temperatures Thursday approached the 50s, helping to melt the final remnants of the winter storm that sent most of the nation into the deep freeze.

“Sunshine’s what we need,” observed District 2 Commissioner Beau Burlison. “Mother Nature did it, and she’s gonna help us clear it. We’ll do the best we can in between.”

Burlison also offered his appreciation for the county employees who worked during the bitter-cold and harsh conditions to keep county operations running as well as could be expected.

“I appreciate the public being patient” with the county’s efforts to clear roads of snow and ice, he said.

But winter’s not over

While Thursday’s warmer temperatures helped clear county roadways, the respite may only be temporary. The forecast for today is highs only in the 20s, with a low Saturday morning back into the mid-teens. Highs through Tuesday are expected to be generally in the 30s, with lows in the teens. There’s also a good chance for snow Monday.

But for those looking far enough ahead for the silver lining, a week from now temperatures may be flirting with the 60s (hey, after all, it’s Oklahoma).

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation encourages motorists to be weather aware, and offers safe driving tips for those who must be on the roads. ODOT has a Drive Oklahoma mobile app that’s available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The one-stop shop app puts all of ODOT’s online travel tools in one place to make it easier for users to check conditions before leaving for their destination.

Another feature available at www.okroads. org is the use of snow plow cameras in rural areas of Oklahoma. Images of highway conditions as plows navigate their routes will give users near real- time information of roadway conditions, helping them make safer driving decisions during weather events. This website is also available in the Drive Oklahoma mobile app.

Motorists can also follow @OKDOT on X (formerly Twitter) and on Facebook to keep up to date with traffic advisories, or call 844-4OK-HWYS (4654997) for road conditions.

Before you venture out

• Stay in when possible.

• If you must travel, check the local forecast plus local media for closures, updates or locations to avoid.

• Check weather-related road conditions at www.okroads.org or call 844-4OK-HWYS.

• Check https://oklahoma.gov/odot/ citizen/traffic-advisories.html for traffic advisories that show lane closures and driving conditions.

• Check for advisories at @OKDOT on X (formerly Twitter) and on Facebook.

• Make sure you have plenty of fuel. A good rule of thumb is to keep your fuel tank at least half full.

• Notify a friend or family member of your planned route and when you expect to arrive.

• Bring a cell phone with emergency numbers, including road-side assistance.

• In case of emergency, you can reach the Oklahoma Highway Patrol by dialing *55 or 911.

• In your cell phone, include a number listed as “ICE,” meaning In Case of Emergency, so emergency personnel can call a person important to you.

What to have with you

• Ice scraper or deicing spray

• Jumper cables

• Clay-based cat litter or sand

• Shovel

• Warm clothes

• Blankets

• High-energy food

• Flashlights with extra batteries

• First aid kit

• Bright fabric tie for the antenna

• Gloves

• Paper towels

• Flares or triangles to warn other vehicles • Bottled water

If you get stranded

• If you still can maneuver your vehicle, park clear of the travel lanes and down-wind of exhaust fumes.

• Call for help and wait until it arrives. Stay in your vehicle with your doors locked.

• Turn on your flashers so rescuers can see your vehicle.

• For heat, run the vehicle in short intervals to conserve fuel, being careful of exhaust fumes. Crack a window to vent any built up carbon monoxide.

• Check to make sure ice and snow have not covered or clogged the vehicle’s tail pipe so dangerous fumes don’t build up in your car.

• Keep a winter weather kit in your vehicle, including a blanket.

• If your vehicle is in contact with a power line, stay inside. Warn others not to touch the car or the power line. If you must leave, jump clear and roll away from the car to avoid touching the car and the ground at the same time.

ODOT tips

• Keep at least 200 feet between your vehicle and road clearing equipment.

• Do not pass road clearing equipment.

• Wait for crews to complete road clearing before approaching bridges and overpasses.

• Use caution when entering or exiting highways.

Driving in snow and ice

• In ice or snow, take it slow. If possible, limit travel during the storm.

• Remember that bridges and ramps will be the first to freeze.

• Be particularly aware of black ice, especially on bridges and ramps.

• Increase the space between you and other vehicles to between three and five car lengths.

• Anticipate the flow of traffic to avoid abrupt actions while steering.

• Snow and ice make stopping distances much longer.

• If your vehicle slides, steer the same direction you are sliding and take your foot off the gas and brake.

• See and be seen! Drive with your headlights on, even during the day.

• Don’t use cruise control while driving on slippery surfaces.

• Before you travel, don’t warm up your vehicle in an enclosed garage.

• Allow ample time to reach your destination.