BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Emergency management officials in Monroe County are preparing for a busy weekend.
Monroe County Emergency Management Director Jamie Neibel says she’s expecting an increase in calls this weekend as Bloomington and Monroe County could take the brunt of this weekend’s major winter storm.
“Our main focus is going to be prevention and we’re going to try to put out those travel advisories, watches and warnings to try to prevent people from being on the roads in the first place,” said Neibel.
Neibel says more than 75 county and city trucks are set to hit the roads; 28 City of Bloomington trucks, 38 county trucks and 10 town of Ellettsville trucks.
Her office is prepared to help first responders any way they can this weekend and are focused on three major areas with this storm.
They are focusing on bridges and overpasses, rural roads, and they’re asking inexperienced drivers to stay off the road if at all possible.
“There’s a whole crop of young drivers that have never driven in conditions like this you know those teenage drivers young 20-something drivers that really have not had the opportunity to drive in this, this is not the time learn,” said Neibel.
Meanwhile, Indiana State Police are working in coordination with INDOT ahead of the storm.
INDOT was already out pre-treating roads in Monroe County Friday night.
Sgt. Matt Ames with the ISP Putnamville post says starting Saturday morning troopers will be out and about making way for INDOT crews.
“Tomorrow (Saturday) morning starting at 8 a.m. we’ll be removing all vehicles, abandoned vehicles along the interstate, state routes and US routes just like any other state police post is going to be doing. It’s going to allow INDOT to get the big yellow trucks out and get all the snow and ice treatment down,” said Sgt. Ames.
Sgt. Ames says troopers will be out across the state and it will be an all-hands-on-deck situation with troopers working in 12-hour shifts starting Sunday at 6 a.m.
Sgt. Ames is urging Hoosiers to get what you need now so you’re off the roads this weekend.
“We need people to get out now if you need to get the store and get a few items that you need to get you through a couple days please do that now don’t wait until Sunday at noon or 2 in the afternoon and now all the sudden you’re becoming a road hazard out there,” said Sgt. Ames.
