COLUMBIA, MO (February 2, 2011) -

The City of Columbia, in conjunction with the Columbia/Boone County Office of Emergency Management, continues efforts to keep the public informed as the city continues to dig out from the winter storm. The Office of Emergency Management continues to stress the need for citizens to refrain from travel unless it is an absolute emergency. “It may be sunny and look nice outside, but the snow is deep and temperatures are bitterly cold, “ said Zim Schwartze, Director of Office of Emergency Management. “Residential areas are still particularly hazardous and we ask people to continue to stay inside. The less traffic we have, the faster road crews can clear neighborhood streets and cul-de-sacs,” explained Schwartze.

Now that the snow has passed, there are important precautions citizen should observe.

• Exercise extreme caution when shoveling snow – take regular breaks and shovel small loads to to reduce the risk of cardiac arrest
• Stay indoors to minimize the risk of injuries due to falls or hypothermia (see safety tip)
• Please do not walk or play in streets to avoid being struck by a vehicle
• Be aware of snow blocking vents on sewer gas pipes, furnaces, hot water heaters and dryers – plumbers, building or roofing contractors may be able to help if you can’t clear them yourself
• In an emergency call 9-1-1; non-emergency dispatch number is 573.442.6131

City Manager Bill Watkins anticipates most, if not all, city offices will be open Thursday, Feb. 3.

• Columbia Transit and ParaTransit will run Emergency Weather Schedule beginning Thursday morning www.gocolumbiamo.com/PublicWorks/Transportation/transit-weather.php

More information about city services and facilities will be released this afternoon as details become available.  For updates, please visit the City of Columbia website at www.gocolumbiamo.com

Department Updates 

Public Work

• Snowplows are  focused on getting to residential streets – information is available at www.gocolumbiamo.com/PublicWorks/Streets/SnowPriorityStreetsbyName.php
  • Citizens are urged to stay off the roads throughout the day
  • With more than 500 miles of streets, it will take several days to clear neighborhoods including residential streets and cul-de-sacs  – please be patient, as crews are working as efficiently as possible
  • Please keep parked cars off streets as often as possible - streets can be plowed more thoroughly with fewer cars on them
  When shoveling snow, scoop snow to the right side of the driveway (as you are facing the street) – this prevents road crews from plowing them shut as they pass through

Columbia Fire Department

• Urges citizens to stay indoors to avoid injuries and overexposure
• If you absolutely must travel, have an emergency kit in your vehicle
• Fire non-emergency dispatch number 573.442.6131
• Don’t use unauthorized heating devices that may cause fires or carbon monoxide poisoning
• Take precautions to avoid fires from cooking, candles, etc.

Columbia Police Department

• Urges citizens to stay off the roads to avoid vehicle accidents
• For non-emergency incidents, use the online reporting system on the city’s website at http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Police/Crime_Reporting/index.php
• Non-essential police services will resume on Thursday, Feb. 3
  • Police non-emergency dispatch number is 573.442.6131

Water and Light

• Running standard 24-hour operations
• If you see a downed power line, stay clear and call 9-1-1
• Water Leak and Electric Outage 24-hour contact 573.875.2555
• Sewer Emergency, 24-hour contact 573.445.9426

Safety Tips

As temperatures drop, it is important to check on neighbors and to take steps to prevent hypothermia.

• When exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced
• Low body temperature may make you unable to think clearly or move well
• You may not know you have hypothermia
• If your temperature is below 95°, the situation is an emergency—get medical attention immediately

When exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced. Prolonged exposure to cold will eventually use up your body’s stored energy. The result is hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature. Body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the victim unable to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia particularly dangerous because a person may not know it is happening and won’t be able to do anything about it.

Hypothermia is most likely at very cold temperatures, but it can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40°F) if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water.

Victims of hypothermia are often (1) elderly people with inadequate food, clothing, or heating; (2) babies sleeping in cold bedrooms; (3) people who remain outdoors for long periods—the homeless, hikers, hunters, etc.; and (4) people who drink alcohol or use illicit drugs.

Warning Signs of Hypothermia

Adults:

• shivering, exhaustion
• confusion, fumbling hands
• memory loss, slurred speech
• drowsiness

Infants:

• bright red, cold skin
• very low energy

If you notice any of these signs, take the person’s temperature. If it is below 95°, the situation is an emergency—get medical attention immediately. 

If medical care is not available, begin warming the person, as follows:

• Get the victim into a warm room or shelter
• If the victim has on any wet clothing, remove it
• Warm the center of the body first—chest, neck, head, and groin—using an electric blanket, if available - or use skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels, or sheets
• Warm beverages can help increase the body temperature, but do not give alcoholic beverages - do not try to give beverages to an unconscious person
• After body temperature has increased, keep the person dry and wrapped in a warm blanket, including the head and neck
• Get medical attention as soon as possible.

A person with severe hypothermia may be unconscious and may not seem to have a pulse or to be breathing. In this case, handle the victim gently, and get emergency assistance immediately. Even if the victim appears dead, CPR should be provided. CPR should continue while the victim is being warmed, until the victim responds or medical aid becomes available. In some cases, hypothermia victims who appear to be dead can be successfully resuscitated.