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WM prepared for ice storm

Entergy, West Memphis Utilities call in the cavalry with storm response teams at the ready

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Entergy, West Memphis Utilities call in the cavalry with storm response teams at the ready

By DON WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

With recent ooding having concerned citizens on high alert and just this week warnings of an ice storm the city, in conjunction with Entergy, has called in 10 Storm Response trucks bracing for the worst. The teams which were strategically positioned in the Kroger parking lot to be able to help out where needed as fast as possible have come to West Memphis from as Arkansas, Mississippi, Kansas, Georgia and even as far away as Iowa.

West Memphis City Hall in a press release said “The City of West Memphis is closely monitoring forecast information in anticipation of possible inclement weather that may impact our area this week. The city’s OEM Director will continue to monitor those forecasts and safety remains our top priority. Please take necessary and precautionary steps in case of a power outage and follow us on social media for additional updates. West Memphis restoration utility crews are ready to address

See STORM, page A2

Arkansas Department of Transportation cameras caught a snapshot of the massive traffic backup caused by a pair of wrecks early Tuesday morning on I-40 near Forrest City.

Photo courtesy of ARDOT

A fleet of trucks from Quality Resources out of Slaughters, Kentucky was on hand over the past two days to assist local utility workers in the event of downed power lines from the icy weather.

Photo by Sherry Holliman STORM

From page A1

outages and restore power promptly should they occur”.

In the case of a winter power outage citizens are reminded of the following precautions:

■ Avoid using open ames such as candles (only if necessary)

■ Keep refrigerator doors closed

■ Keep electronics such as cell phones charged in case of emergency

■ Turn off or disconnect appliances and other equipment in case of a momentary power “surge” that can damage computers and other devices

■ Dress to prepare for the weather

■ Avoid travel if at all possible, stay indoors

■ Be sure to check on family members, especially the elderly Gov. Sarah Sanders declared a state of emergency in Arkansas Tuesday morning due to the blast of wintry weather. Roadways across the state were blanketed with treacherous ice and contributed to a fatal crash in Benton County.

The executive order will provide funds for the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management to help with the ice storm response.

Refreezing overnight left black ice on roads in western and northwestern Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma from the ice storm.

Fire of_cials in Forrest City sent out warnings concerning the dangerous driving conditions of Interstate 40 as the ice storm hit Arkansas Tuesday morning.

According to the Forrest City Fire Department, I-40 and Highway 70 were both icy and created extremely hazardous driving conditions.

Of_cials with the Arkansas Department of Transportation reported two crashes. One crash was reported just before 3 a.m. blocking traf_c going eastbound. Another crash was reported just after 7 a.m. blocking traf_c going westbound. Three semi-trucks involved in crash on I-40 in St. Francis County led to major backups there.

Fire of_cials said that westbound lanes on I-40 were impassable from 2:30 a.m. well into Tuesday morning. Traf_c cameras from ARDOT showed the severity of the traf_c logjam.

“If you do not have to travel, stay off the roads,” advised ARDOT.

After two days of freezing temperatures and winter weather, the forecast calls for Crittenden County to just barely get above the freezing point today, with a projected high of 33 degrees. There is more rain in the forecast for Thursday, but temperatures are expected to stay above freezing until Friday night.

Icy conditions led to school closures across the county. ASU Mid-South canceled classes on Monday as well as the Greyhounds basketball games scheduled against Shorter College.

Photo courtesy of ASU Mid-South

Salt trucks and heavy equipment were ready to roll.

Photo courtesy of City of West Memphis

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