An unprecedented winter storm is rocking the U.S. to a level not seen in almost 20 years.
More than 73.2% of the lower 48 states are covered in snow, a number not reached since 2003, according to Weather.com. The last time snow covered even 70-percent of the lower 48 was back in 2010.
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Millions of homes in Texas and Oklahoma were left without power, some for more than 30 hours. With temperatures well below freezing, in some places reaching as far down as zero or below, those are life-threatening conditions. Many Texans also dealt with a boil-water advisory, due to potential contamination.
The last time the Augusta area experienced a weather emergency was back in 2014, when an ice storm felled trees and power lines across the CSRA and sent the city into a state of crisis. Roads were impassable, businesses were closed and clean-up was looking formidable.
In the wake of the storm, government officials asked themselves what they could do better the next time an emergency weather situation arose. How have their efforts fared?
“In 2015, EMA purchased a mobile generator through grant funding that can be used for an emergency shelter,” said Jason Dehart, public information officer with Emergency Management. “Additionally, four recreation centers were wired for generator coverage.”
Having proper shelter when power and heat are compromised is vital in times of cold weather crisis.
“Richmond County public safety agencies have always operated on the same radio system,” Dehart continued. “However, in October 2020, the county activated its new radio tower system, which provides better radio coverage countywide. In 2019, EMA completed a project for outdoor warning sirens. Through grant funding, four sirens were installed in Richmond County.”
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These answers support the claim that the emergency personnel in the area have made incremental improvements to their systems in hopes of better preparing for severe weather and alerting the public as quickly as possible.
In terms of being prepared on an individual level, Dehart offered his expertise on how to stock up and prepare for a shelter-in-place situation.
“People are encouraged to have food and water for at least five days for their families,” Dehart said. “Have a weather radio and extra batteries to monitor weather conditions and emergency communications. Sign up for emergency alerts from your county emergency management office.”
The emergency management’s office also suggests packing lesser-thought-about items such as a manual can opener, extra medication, and a physical contact list of family members, friends and medical personnel.
“If people need to head out, then drivers should slow their speed in order to increase their safety on the roads,” Dehart warned. “Otherwise, people should monitor weather reports from the National Weather Service or watch their local meteorologists to stay informed.”
The hope is that much like the snowplows and salt spreaders the city purchased after the ice storm, you’ll never need to use many of these emergency-preparedness materials. But as the saying goes: “Expect the best, prepare for the worst.”
Tyler Strong is the Business Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at tyler@theaugustapress.com
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