COLUMBIA, MO (January 31, 2011) -

To ensure the safety of all citizens, the City of Columbia, in conjunction with the Columbia/Boone County Office of Emergency Management, is coordinating efforts to keep the public informed about preparations for the winter storm forecast for Tuesday, Feb. 1 and Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011

Safety Tips

• Refrain from travel if possible – if walking, beware of slippery conditions
• Remember road conditions can change and become dangerous in a short amount of time – and are expected to deteriorate quickly on Tuesday
• Please keep parked cars off streets as often as possible, so they do not block road crews or emergency vehicles
• If you absolutely must travel, have an emergency kit in your vehicle
• If stranded in a vehicle, keep snow cleared from exhaust, run only occasionally to keep warm,  slightly open a window that is down wind while vehicle is running, leave dome light on at night, if you can’t see a residence - do not try to walk to safety
• For emergencies and life-threatening situations, call 9-1-1
• For non-emergency assistance and non-injury accidents call the non-emergency line 573-442-6211
• Check road closures at www.showemboone.com/OEM/closures or Missouri Department of Transportation at www.modot.org
• Prepare homes with necessary supplies: food, water, medicine and other essential items
• Don’t use unauthorized heating devices that may cause fires or carbon monoxide poisoning
• Check on family, friends and neighbors that could be at high risk of cold-related injury or illness including the elderly, those that are fighting an illness and people who do not have access to adequate heat.
• Warming centers and shelters are available throughout the community. A list of cold-relief facilities can be found at the end of the document
• Exercise caution when shoveling snow - beware of overexertion and slippery conditions. 
• Scoop snow to the right side of the driveway (as you are facing the street)  to avoid having driveways plowed shut
• Provide proper shelter for pets and provide fresh water and food supplies on a regular basis.

Public Safety and Emergency Weather Operations – Updates   

The City’s goal is to provide quality essential services to the best of our ability.  According to City Manager Bill Watkins, “Essential operations are those that must continue to assure the public safety and general welfare of citizens.” 

Office of Emergency Management

• Partially activating the Emergency Operations Center and coordinating with the City, County and other public and private entities

 Joint Communications

• Is staffed with round-the-clock operators and has on-site employees standing-by
• Non-emergency dispatch number 573.442.6131

Columbia Fire Department

Beginning at 07:00 am on Tuesday, February 1, 2011, the Columbia Fire Department will staff three reserve engines, a reserve rescue squad, a reserve ladder, and two fire department snow plow trucks in addition to the normal daily resources

• Non-essential personnel will be out, with the exception of support staff available to handle extra duties as required
• The staffing of additional resources will continue as long as conditions warrant 
• Fire non-emergency dispatch number 573.442.6131

Columbia Police Department

• Has secured several four-wheel drive vehicles to help officers get around and a lieutenant will be on duty at all time
• The front lobby of the department will be open and a phone will be available for emergencies, but it will not be staffed
• Non-essential police services, such as records clerks, front desk personnel, and community service aides are being suspended until the weather improves
• Vehicles that become immobile will not be removed unless they are obstructing traffic
• Police non--emergency dispatch number is 573.442.6131
• Police encourage citizens to use the online reporting system on the city’s website at 

http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Police/Crime_Reporting/index.php

Public Works

• Has 18 snowplows, plus other equipment such as backhoes and graders, that will be aiding in snow removal on 500 miles of streets
• Crews will begin salting of bridges Monday evening
• Snowplow drivers work in 12 hour shifts, changing at 8am and 8pm - overtime will be utilized as needed until streets are safe and passable
• Crews from other city departments also pitch in to help with snow removal
• The city’s salt dome is full, however, cinders might be required if temperatures are too cold for the salt alone to work - Calcium chloride, which is a liquid melting agent, might also be used in case of ice
• Please keep parked cars off streets as often as possible. Parked cars are an obstacle to clearing the street well and pose a hazard that plows must maneuver around - streets can be plowed more thoroughly with fewer cars parked on the street
• City crews maintain priority routes first (critical, 1^st and 2^nd priority streets), then move to residential streets once the priorities are safe and passable - keep in mind safe and passable does not mean down to dry pavement
• Cul-de-sacs will not be plowed or treated
• Priority streets are listed online at: http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/PublicWorks/Streets/SnowPriorityStreetsbyName.php

Water and Light

• Running standard 24-hour operations with back up staff on standby
• Line crews and tree trimming crews are geared-up
• Dispatchers will be working normal hours 
• Water Leak and Electric Outage 24-hour contact 573.875.2555
• Sewer Emergency, 24 hour contact 573.445.9426

Cancellation of Services and Closures

• Columbia Transit and ParaTransit will not operate on Tuesday or Wednesday. Bus service will return on Thursday, but may be running on the emergency weather service depending on road conditions. - notices will be sent as update are available
• Parking meters will not be enforced on Tuesday or Wednesday
• There will be no trash or recycling collection on Tuesday or Wednesday this week (these are not delayed)  - trash and recycling normally picked up on Tuesday or Wednesday will resume next week
• Trash pick up is expected to resume Thursday, but service could be slower than normal due to road conditions 
• The sanitary landfill will be closing at noon on Tuesday and will be closed all day Wednesday
• Building and Site Development will be closed, so building permits and other related services will not be available on Tuesday or Wednesday
• The electronic waste collection originally scheduled for Saturday, February 5 at the Home Depot parking lot, has been cancelled and will be rescheduled at a later date

Closures

City departments will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday and all department meetings are canceled for the following:

City Hall

• City Manager’s Office
• City Clerk
• Finance – including Business License, Utility Account Billing, Cashier and Customer Service
• Information Technology (essential personnel on standby)
• Law
• Planning Department
• Public Works (essential personnel on standby)
• Public Communications (essential personnel on standby)

Gentry Building

• Office of Cultural Affairs
• Parks and Recreation Administration

Other Parks and Recreation Closures

• ARC, 1701 W. Ash
• Armory Sports Center and C.A.R.E. office, 701 E. Ash
• Stephens Lake Activity Center, 2311 E. Walnut
• Rock Quarry Park House, 2002 Grindstone Pkwy
• Riechmann Pavilion, 2300 E. Walnut
• Human Resources
• Employee Health
• Municipal Court

Howard Municipal Building

Office of Neighborhood Services

Public Health and Human Services

• Administration
• Animal Control
• Community Services
• Environmental Health
• Nursing
• Social Services
• Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

Walton Building

• Convention and Visitors Bureau

Water and Light

• Administration
• Engineering

Warming Centers

The following warming centers are temporarily closed:

• ARC (Activity and Recreation Center,) 1707 West Ash Street, 573.874.7700
• Armory Sports and Community Center, 701 East Ash Street, 573.874.7466
• Boone County Government Center, 801 East Walnut, 573.886.4305
• Columbia/Boone County Dept of Public Health & Human Services    
• 1005 West Worley, 573.874.7488

The following warming centers MAY be open. Please call for availability.

• Columbia Public Library, 100 West Broadway, 573-443-3161
• Salvation Army, 1108 West Ash Street, 573-442-3229
• Salvation Army Harbor House, 602 North Ann, 573-442-1984
• St. Francis House, 901 Rangeline, 573-875-4913

Official Shelters

Official Shelters provide sleeping accommodations. These locations may or may not include meals. Please call for availability.

New Life Evangelistic Center- men
901 Wilkes Blvd, 573-875-0603

Rainbow House- children only
1611 Towne Dr, 573-474-3558

Salvation Army Harbor House
602 North Ann, 573-442-1984

St. Francis House- men
901 Rangeline, 573.875.4913

True North- victims of domestic violence
573-875-1369

Welcome Home- veterans
1206 Rangeline, 573-443-8001

For continuous updates, please visit the City of Columbia website at www.gocolumbiamo.com