Cole County, Jefferson City emergency services prepare for ice storm

Numerous city and county agencies met Thursday morning for a joint emergency operation center meeting to pre-plan how to work together to handle the forecasted upcoming ice storm.

Agencies included public works, law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, Jefferson City Public Schools, the city administrator and more.

“Last time we did it was when we had the large snow storm we were told that was coming in in 2011. We briefed twice a day with all the big officials and everything,” Emergency Management Director Bill Farr said.

If the ice storm hits as expected, city and county public works will be the designated incident command, according to Farr.

“They would be the command since public works deal with the streets mainly,” Farr said. “Then you’re gonna have things like downed tree limbs, power lines, that’s where your law enforcement/fire kicks in. You’re EMS folks, we’re gonna still run medical calls.”

City public works crews will not treat roads overnight because of the freezing rain chance, according to Britt Smith.

Full city and county crews will be in Friday morning to treat roads.

Cole County EMS and the Jefferson City Fire Department told ABC 17 News they may call in extra staff if needed.

“In the big snow storm in 2011, we basically kept a lot of people overnight, set them on cots and that way we had the crews there ready when needed,” Farr said.

In the case of a power outage, EMA has a few large generators to supply power in an emergency situation.

“They carry a good fuel load of 100 gallons of fuel,” Farr said. “So they can set up and operate larger buildings, maybe a nursing home if they’re wired for it, any of the shelters if they’re wired for it.”

Farr reminds residents it may take a little longer for emergency crews to respond to 911 calls as firetrucks and ambulances will have to take it slower in the icy conditions.