ST. LOUIS, Missouri — Emergency management officials mobilized law enforcement and expanded patrols across Missouri as a state of emergency blankets the Show-Me State.
Governor Mike Parson activated the National Guard to accompany Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers as they monitor roadways and clear dangerous obstructions or potential wreckage from highways. Severe winter weather, including snow, bitter cold temperatures, and strong gusts of wind, swept through Missouri and into parts of Illinois on Thursday morning.
State troopers in Jefferson City are monitoring traffic cameras and other travel data on the SCOUT dashboard system, according to Captain John Holtz.
"If you don't have to travel, then don't," Holtz told 5 On Your Side. He stressed that emergency management work relies heavily on cooperation from the public.
"If you get too many cars out there on the road, then it's impossible for MODOT to get out there and treat those areas because they can't get to the roadway," Holtz said. "It's impassable with all the stops."
He said stranded drivers or people who notice any troubling signs of danger on the roadways can dial *55 to notify authorities of the risk.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol's Troop C said its troopers have responded to 182 calls for service, 54 stranded motorists, 30 non-injury crashes, six injury crashes and no fatalities as of 2 p.m. Troop C serves the following counties: Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, Perry, Pike, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Warren, and Washington.
Holtz said troopers will continue working shifts around-the-clock through Christmas Day to make sure they have enough resources to shuttle stranded drivers to warming centers to protect them from the extreme, potentially fatal, cold shocks.
Authorities from the Missouri Department of Transportation, the Missouri National Guard, the State Emergency Management Agency, Department of Public Safety, and other EMS staff are staffing a central command center to monitor the severe weather as it deteriorates rapidly.
Holtz offered a warning to any drivers who may lose control of their vehicle and slide off the road.
"If one person slides off, there's a good chance other people will and then they're struck and killed by other vehicles that are losing control as well," he said. "Staying inside the vehicle with a seatbelt on is your best protection as a driver."
Across the river in Illinois, emergency management officials say they are monitoring the weather situation but have not yet activated the Emergency Operation Center or the Joint Information Center at this time.
The Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police, and Illinois Emergency Management Agency also issued warning to the public about venturing out in these severe cold conditions where whipping winds can sweep snow drifts across roadways.
"With a vast majority of the state anticipated to be impacted by severe winter weather conditions during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, the ISP is cautioning drivers to prepare your vehicle if you plan to travel in the inclement weather," Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said. "Further, it is imperative that drivers remain focused on the roads and the potential for icy conditions, especially when approaching any vehicles parked or stranded on the side of the road and those emergency personnel helping them. We want everyone to make it home for the holidays."
"We're working closely with local emergency management officials throughout the state to monitor conditions and be ready to provide assistance they may need," IEMA Deputy Director Scott Swinford said. "But it's also important that people prepare themselves for this storm with food, water, working flashlights, weather radios and other necessities."
The potential for whiteout conditions complicated holiday travel plans for thousands of commuters at Chicago's O'Hare Airport rushing to beat the pending snowfall on Thursday morning.
