Ahead of the tough winter weather expected this Sunday, city leaders are warning the community to not take unnecessary risks and prepare for the rough conditions.
In front of a gaggle of news reporters, Sarah Russell, the St. Louis City Emergency Management Agency Commissioner made a plea to viewers.
“Each of you watching does have a role as well. We ask that you take steps to prepare yourself, prepare your family and check in with loved ones and neighbors who may need assistance throughout this event,” she said.
When you are out checking on your neighbors, Captain Garon Mosby with the St. Louis Fire Department warned “if you do have to go out, understand it’s going to be slick and you will fall.”
Mosby said “if we do get a tremendous amount of snowfall, be careful about not parking in front of fire hydrants.” He said there is usually an uptick in fires during cold weather.
If you are out shoveling, clearing the hydrant would help emergency crews because city workers will have to prioritize other areas. “The main duty of the streets department is really our major arterials, our secondary and our hill routes,” explains St. Louis Department of Streets Director Betherny Williams.
Officials said the City has around 50 snow removal vehicles and operators who will work alternating 12 hour shifts.
David Wrone with St. Louis County Transportation and Public Works says their crews will also work a 12 hour shift. He said “there are roughly a 115 vehicles that are capable of plowing and salting.”
Maintenance crews at Lambert will also be running. “We obviously, much like the street department, our teams work 12-hour shifts so we work 24 around the clock,” airport director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge said.
Hamm-Niebruegge is working with the airlines ahead of the wintry weather. “Sunday is an extremely heavy book day. It is really the last day and the end of the holiday season, so we’re booked at about 21,000 outbound passengers going through the checkpoint.”
She said most airlines are offering free flight changes for Sunday travelers. It is incredibly rare for Lambert to close for weather – the last time was the 2011 tornado.