County road dept. prepared for slick roads

Published 7:00 am Tuesday, January 28, 2014

The Pearl River County Emergency Management Agency is preparing for about a quarter inch of ice to accumulate throughout Tuesday and Wednesday.

Danny Manley, director of the county Emergency Management Agency, said at a meeting of county emergency officials that they would be constantly monitoring the weather situation and getting information out to the public as soon as possible.

Manley said Mississippi Department of Transportation is sending 35 trucks with a solution to help ice from building up on the bridges and overpasses.

Sign up for our daily email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

Even though MDOT and the county road department are working on keeping the roads ice-free, road manager Dale Miller asks people stay off the roads.

“If you don’t have to get on the roads, don’t get on the roads,” Miller said.

Miller said a priority list of roads and bridges that the department will work to stay clear.

Miller said the road department would be updating their Facebook page with a list of road closures.

Manley said as of right now, there are no plans to open shelters. He said if the storm knocks out the power lines, the county would open shelters.

Manley said the power lines can hold up to a third of an inch of ice.

Pearl River County Hospital is double staffed and sand has been delivered to the hospital for when ice builds up.

Manley reiterated to stay off the roads.

“If there is ice, you’re eventually going to get in a bind,” Manley said.