Saturday, December 20, 2008

Washington County Roads announcement

Washington County would like to notify the public about the road conditions after Thursday night’s ice and snow storm. County personnel have been working since 5 a.m. on Friday, December 19 to try and remove a thick layer of ice, sleet and snow mixture. The general road conditions for the county roads contain areas of bare pavement and then areas of at least an inch of ice, sleet and snow pack. As a result of these road conditions, they are urging the public to drive with caution and to treat the roads as if they are still completely covered. Washington County will continue to work on clearing the roads as long as the material keeps coming off Friday and will be back out again Saturday trying to clear the roads.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Washington County Sheriff Reports

Sheriff Jerry Dunbar reports on today's conditions



Find more KCII audio here

Highway 218 update

Highway 218 in Washington County is now listed at "wet" by the Iowa DOT. However, temperatures are dropping, and driving conditions may change.

The previous towing restriction for 218 is lifted.

Audio about Washington County roads

Washington County Roads report from the Maintenance Foreman. Heard on KCII today during Midday Magazine.


Find more KCII audio here

Cancellation list 9 a.m.

Schools

-Washington Schools closed

-St. James closed
no preschool

-Columbus Schools closed

-Highland Schools closed

-IMS closed

-Keota Schools closed

-Lone Tree Schools closed

-Mid Prairie Schools closed

-Sigourney Schools closed

-WACO Schools closed

-Wapello Schools closed

-Mt. Pleasant Public Schools closed

-Mt. Pleasant Christian School closed

-Winfield Mount Union Schools closed

-HACAP Head Start closed

-Kirkwood Community College all locations closed

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Community Updates

-Washington County Mini Bus is closed

-Washington Y senior dining, home delivered meals in Washington and Brighton and the Hospitals Meals on Wheels program are canceled

-Wellman Senior Dining closed

-Keokuk County congregate meal sites are closed

-The Area Agency on Aging meal program in Columbus Junction and Columbus City is canceled

-Snow emergency for the City of Riverside.

-Louisa County government offices open at 10 a.m.

-Henry County Courthouse is closed

-Parkview Home in Wayland Christmas Party is rescheduled for Monday at 1:30

-Private Pesticide Training in Washington and Sigourney has been canceled

-No group exercise classes at the Washington Y

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Businesses

-Lending Hands Adult Day Care closed

-Riverside VFW closed

-Sunrise Child Care in Wellman closed

-Dental Care by the Square in Washington is closed

-Curves in Washington opening at noon

Department of Transportation announcement

US 218: from US 61 South to I-80; I-380
roadway is completely covered with mixed snow ice or slush, towing services prohibited

last updated today at 6:58 AM

Photo downtown

Truck coated with ice in downtown. 5:15 a.m. December 19, 2008. (Ben Stanton/KCII)

Morning photos


Downtown Washington 5:15 a.m. December 19, 2008. (Ben Stanton/KCII)

Ice cancels schools, covers roads

Heavy ice observed downtown Washington. The Washington County Public Safety Center reports that some roads are better than others, but travel is not advised. Schools are canceled today (Friday) .

Here is an updated list: http://www.ask4direct.com/custom/kcii

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Riverside snow emergency

City of Riverside snow emergency is in effect

Rain is falling

It came a little later than expected, but the freezing rain started falling shortly before 7 p.m.

Resources for the Ice Storm

Carbon Monoxide Fact Sheet

CDC Extreme Cold Situations Guidelines

CDC Guidelines for Emergencies Sudden Power Loss

How to Keep Food and Water Safe

Portable Generators

Latest cancellation list

Here's the latest; the list is also right here


-Washington Schools will dismiss at 1:10

-Highland dismisses at 1
no evening activities

-Keota Schools dismissing at 11:30

-Lone Tree Schools dismissing at 1

-Mt. Pleasant Public Schools dismissing at 12:40

-Sigourney Schools dismissing at 11:30

-WACO Schools dismissing at 1:10

-Wapello Schools dismissing at 1
no evening activities

-Winfield Mount Union Schools dismissing at 1
no evening activities

-Indian Hills Community College closing at noon

-Columbus Schools dismissing at 1:20

-IMS dismissing at 2

-Mid Prairie Schools Dismissing 2 hours early

-Washington Youth Wrestling has been canceled

Community announcements

Washington County cancellations, delays, early outs, and announcements are found at the following page.

Cancellations and Delays

If you have weather related cancellations or announcements, call KCII at 319-653-2113.

Ice Storm Preview

In Touch with Southeast Iowa interview with Weathereye Meteorologist Laura Lockwood on Wednesday, December 17, 2008. Keep in mind this aired on Wednesday.

The storm is expected today (Thursday) afternoon.

Find the interview on the Radio Plus Page on the list on the right side.

See the interview list


Listen to KCII during the Midday Magazine for another "In Touch" for an update from Emergency Management Coordinator Larry Smith.

Ice Storm Preparations

This blog for KCII Radio in Washington, Iowa is revived today in preparation of an ice storm expected this afternoon and evening. KCII News will be posting information here through the evening and Friday if it is necessary.

We used this space during record flooding in June to bringing you any and all relevant information.

This is what the National Weather Service issued this morning about the storm:
A MAJOR WINTER STORM WILL AFFECT THE AREA STARTING THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUING INTO FRIDAY MORNING. SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL AND ICE WILL BE SEEN WITH THIS STORM BY THE TIME IT ENDS. TRAVEL IS EXPECTED TO BECOME EXTREMELY DANGEROUS...IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE...OVER PORTIONS OF FAR NORTHEAST MISSOURI...EASTERN IOWA...AND NORTHWEST ILLINOIS. THE LATEST INDICATIONS SHOW THAT THE STORM MAY PRODUCE MAINLY SNOW
NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80...WITH HEAVIEST ACCUMULATIONS OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN LIKELY TO THE SOUTH.

This link has several resources for preparation for severe winter weather:
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=dvn&storyid=20220&source=0