As a winter storm barrels toward western Kentucky, Todd County emergency officials gathered Friday afternoon to finalize their game plan.
Emergency Management Director Ash Groves led the briefing, emphasizing a “boots on the ground” approach starting early Saturday morning.
Here is the breakdown of how the county is preparing for the incoming weather:
Road Conditions and Treatment
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has already been active pre-treating state routes. However, officials confirmed that KYTC is currently out of brine. To compensate, crews will begin operations at 6:00 AM Saturday to get a head start on the accumulation. Salt trucks will begin spreading material the moment the first snowflake falls.
On the county level, road crews are focusing their limited resources on known dangerous areas and high-risk inclines. Officials reminded residents that the county does not have the resources to salt every mile of rural roadway, and travel should be avoided if possible.
Critical Infrastructure and Safety
A major focus of Friday’s meeting was ensuring that residents remain safe and connected during the height of the storm.
• Water Supply: The Logan-Todd Rural Water Commission has generators staged and ready. While most of the county relies on gravity-flow pipes, these generators are critical for pumping water to residents in North Todd.
• Medical Care: Officials have coordinated a response plan to ensure emergency medical services can reach residents even if roads become treacherous.
• Warming Centers: The county is prepared to open warming centers if power outages become widespread. Locations will be announced as the need arises.
Communication and Dispatch
To ensure that emergency services remain uninterrupted, Todd County has a “rollover” agreement in place. If 911 lines become overwhelmed or if there is a mechanical failure with the local phone lines, all emergency calls will automatically route to Christian County Dispatch.
Officials are asking the public to keep 911 lines clear for life-threatening emergencies only. For all other inquiries, use the non-emergency lines.
Non-Emergency Dispatch Numbers
* (270) 265-2501
* (270) 265-2502
Stay tuned to WEKT for further updates as the storm progresses.
