Good Morning Howell County,
BRRRR!! What a chilly start to the week! I hope everyone stayed warm and your water is still flowing!
The Howell County Sheriff’s Office lobby is again open to any and all who are seeking a warm place for a few minutes or all day. We will offer a meal to those present at lunch time.
This morning, we are seeing increased vehicle traffic as many journey to work and to tend to their farm chores. We are also seeing lots of sunshine. With the sunshine will come melting of the ice and snow on the roadways. This will also cause additional hazards. Please take the following into consideration when traveling the next few days:
* Watch for black ice, especially on bridges, overpasses, shaded areas, and less-traveled roads. It’s often invisible.
* Melting during the day will refreeze overnight, creating slick spots even if roads looked clear earlier.
* Reduce speed and allow extra stopping distance; icy roads drastically increase braking time.
* Avoid sudden movements. Please accelerate, brake, and steer smoothly to maintain traction.
* Increase your following distance to allow more reaction time if traffic ahead stops suddenly or loses control.
* Be cautious on curves and hills, where loss of traction is more likely.
* Clear all snow and ice from your vehicle, including windows, mirrors, headlights, and roof, before driving.
* Plan extra travel time and avoid unnecessary travel if conditions worsen.
* Communicate your travel route with a family member or friend, and then let them know you’ve arrived safely.
MoDot and Howell County Road and Bridge are making significant progress, and we are even seeing gravel again on a few County Roads. However, most roads are still mostly covered, and many intersections are causing issues for vehicles with low ground clearance.
As always, your Howell County deputies and dispatchers are ready to assist with any issues you may encounter!
Stay safe out there!
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