Preparing for the next round of winter weather

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — Get ready to see snow plows on the roads again, our ABC 36 meteorologist say the Tuesday morning commute could be messy.

“Emergency management has started preparing the EOC letting people know we are going to be opening it up tomorrow,” Emily Faye with Lexington Emergency Management said.

The Emergency Operations Center in Lexington is busy getting ready for another round of winter weather. While the weather can be dangerous, Faye says there are easy ways to stay safe.

“If you have to travel, especially during the snowfall, take it slow, allow for extra time, and use extreme caution,” she said.

If you’re staying off the roads and at home, there will be risks for power outages.

“Go ahead and seal off all those drafty doors in your house, we recommend that people take towels and roll them up, put them up against the edge of your door frame,” Faye said.

She also recommends heading to a friend or family member’s house to stay warm.

Lexington prepares for more snow as Valentine’s week storm approaches

As another round of snow heads toward Lexington, city officials are preparing to keep roads clear and residents safe.

“The forecasters are saying we will be getting more snow for Valentine’s week,” Mayor Linda Gorton said in a release Monday. “The city has made a number of changes since the snow and ice storm in January by quickly identifying key improvements we could make, and putting them in place immediately.”

Gorton said the city has added snow plows, transferred manpower, and restocked salt and Beet Heet supplies to ensure a faster response. The city currently has 5,900 tons of salt available.

Fayette County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Demetrus Liggins said school officials continue to work closely with the city. “Our coordinated efforts prioritize safety, and we trust that any potential interruptions will align with that commitment,” Liggins said in the release.

City response efforts

• Streets and Roads: Road crews are pretreating streets ahead of the snowfall and will be on duty starting at midnight. Large trucks contracted to assist with major roads will report at 4 a.m.
• Lexington Police: Officers are ready to adjust staffing and deploy traffic control equipment if necessary. Police urge residents to avoid non-essential travel and ensure their vehicles are equipped with emergency supplies.
• Fire Department: Fire officials have additional staff on standby and have winterized engines and ladders to handle emergency situations. The Technical Swiftwater team is prepared for potential flooding.
• Waste Management: Trash collection is scheduled to continue as normal, though delays may occur. Residents are advised to keep bins out until collected.
• Office of Homelessness Prevention and Intervention: The city’s Emergency Winter Weather Plan remains in effect, providing shelter and resources for those in need. Outreach teams continue to locate unsheltered individuals and facilitate emergency shelter access.

For updates on road conditions, snow removal, delays, and live traffic cameras, residents can visit www.lexingtonky.gov/snowupdates. Anyone needing non-emergency assistance can call Lexington Police at (859) 258-3600.