COLUMBIA, MO (February 1, 2011) -

The City of Columbia, in conjunction with the Columbia/Boone County Office of Emergency Management, is coordinating efforts to keep the public informed about the severe winter storm Tuesday, Feb. 1 and Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011. The Office of Emergency Management continues to monitor the storm. Residents are encouraged to stay tuned to local media and the National Weather Service at www.weather.gov/alerts-beta/mo.php?x=1. City road crews are focusing on critical, 1st and 2nd priority streets. Public Works asks for everyone's patience as crews work to make the streets safe and passable during this historical snowstorm.

Safety Tips

• Refrain from travel unless it is an absolute emergency
• If walking, beware of slippery conditions – falls and slips can be life-threatening
  • Remember road and walkway conditions are deteriorating rapidly
  • If you absolutely must travel, have an emergency kit in your vehicle – great tips for weather safety are posted on the city’s website www.gocolumbiamo.com
    • For emergencies, downed powerlines and life-threatening situations, call 9-1-1
    • For non-emergency assistance and non-injury accidents call the non-emergency line 573.442.6131 (Revised since 1/31/11 release)

• Exercise caution when shoveling snow - beware of overexertion and slippery conditions 
• Please keep parked cars off streets as often as possible, so they do not block road crews or Emergency vehicles
• 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
  • Check road closures at www.showmeboone.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 – especially as temperatures continue to drop after the storm passes
• Warming centers and shelters are available throughout the community - a list of cold-relief facilities can be found at the end of this document
• 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.”  The city is leading by example and has closed all offices except public safety and emergency weather operations.

Office of Emergency Management

• Partially activating the Emergency Operations Center and continuously 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

The Columbia Fire Department is staffing three reserve engines, a reserve rescue squad, a reserve ladder and two fire department snowplow trucks, in addition to the normal daily resources

• Non-essential personnel will be out of the office, 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 will be open with a phone 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 - other departments are also helping with snow removal
• Crews began salting bridges and treating streets Monday evening and plowing has begun
• Snowplow drivers are working in 12-hour shifts, overtime will be utilized as needed until streets are safe and passable – with the amount of snow expected, it could take several days to clear all city streets and everyone's patience is appreciated
• 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, 1st and 2nd priority streets), then move to residential streets and cul-de-sacs, once the priorities routes are safe and passable - keep in mind safe and passable does not mean down to dry pavement (revised since 1/31/11)
• Priority streets are listed online at: http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/PublicWorks/Streets/SnowPriorityStreetsbyName.php
• The city’s salt dome is full, however, cinders might be required if temperatures are too cold for salt alone - calcium chloride, a liquid melting agent, might also be used in case of ice

Water and Light

• If you see a downed power line, stay clear and call 9-1-1
• Running standard 24-hour operations with full-shifts and 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 updates 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 cancelled 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

o     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

• Howard Municipal Building

          Human Resources

          Employee Health

          Municipal Court

• Office of Neighborhood Services

City responds to winter weather, pg 6

• 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