February 12, 2012

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Snow plows are doing their work, interstates open, still the State Highway Patrol cautions against travel (AUDIO)

February 2, 2011 By

Trucks roll westbound past a jackknifed tractor trailer on I-70 in Foristell. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Interstates might be open. The snowplows might have cleared roads. Still, the State Highway Patrol cautions motorists to be careful out there.

The blizzard has passed, leaving behind several inches of snow over nearly all of Missouri. Road crews have been working to get things back to normal. State Highway Patrol Captain Tim Hull reminds us they aren’t back to normal yet.

“We’re still urging motorists and citizens to limit travel if you get out at all,” Hull says. “Again, because the roads are still mostly covered. It’s still treacherous out there, even though they are passable.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Transportation, Weather Tagged With:

I-70 closed across Missouri (AUDIO)

February 1, 2011 By

Interstate 70, the main roadway across the state of Missouri, has been closed by the Missouri Department of Transportation.

MoDOT had closed I-70 in mid-Missouri earlier in the day and even pulled its snowplows off the interstate due to whiteout conditions. The closing only affected I-70 in Cooper, Boone and Callaway until later in the afternoon when the decision was made to close the entire interstate from St. Louis to Kansas City. MoDOT says the blizzard has made I-70 impassable. MoDOT states in a news release that the action will keep motorists from becoming stranded on the interstate. MoDOT says it will continue to plow statewide as conditions allow. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Transportation, Travel, Weather Tagged With: ,

Heavy snow, blowing winds slam into Missouri (AUDIO)

February 1, 2011 By

Bob Jackson works on his windshield as a steady sleet falls in St. Louis. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Heavy snow has hit Missouri, with strong winds creating blizzard conditions through a swath from southwest Missouri, through the central part of the state, heading to northeast Missouri.

The state is getting blanketed by snow, but some areas are getting hit hard. Snow is falling so heavily and the wind is blowing so hard in central Missouri that the Missouri Department of Transportation has closed I-70 in Boone, Cooper and Callaway Counties. MoDOT says it is unknown how long the middle section of the interstate will be closed. MoDOT spokesman Sally Oxenhandler says the volume of snow and whiteout conditions on I-70 forced the decision to remove snowplow crews from the interstate for a short time. Crews went back to work in the area at mid-afternoon but the interstate remained closed in those three counties. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fires/Accidents/Disasters, Transportation, Travel, Weather Tagged With: ,

Gov. Nixon issues executive orders in anticipation of severe winter storm (AUDIO)

January 31, 2011 By

SHP Supt. Ron Replogle addresses a news conference as Adjutant General Steve Danner and Gov. Nixon look on

Governor Nixon has activated state resources to respond to a rarity in Missouri: a blizzard.

Nixon has issued two executive orders. One activates the Missouri State Emergency Operations Plan, which allows state agencies to assist cities and counties in preparing and responding to this winter storm. The other activates the National Guard.

“Temperatures across the state will be very cold, in the single digits or lower for a number of days in a row here,” Nixon stated during a news conference held Monday afternoon in his Capitol office. “This is a very serious storm.”

Nixon was joined by Adjutant General Steve Danner and State Highway Patrol Superintendent Colonel Ron Replogle.

Replogle says Missouri motorists need to take this one seriously.

“I don’t think Missouri drivers have seen a storm system quite like this one unless you’ve lived in the northern plains of the United States,” Replogle stated. “Rarely do we have a blizzard warning ever issued in the state of Missouri.”

Replogle encouraged anyone who doesn’t have to travel to stay put.

Adjutant General Steve Danner says the Missouri National Guard is prepared to help in any way it can.

“Whether it might be a rescue of individuals who are stranded at a farm home, whether it might be taking elderly patients to or from a hospital or a nursing home,” said Danner.

More than 600 guardsmen have been activated. Almost all the nearly 800 State Highway Patrol troopers, plus Water Patrol will be on hand to respond as the storm.

Nixon encouraged Missourians to take steps to protect themselves and their families such as listening to the radio or NOAA Weather Radio for updates or watching local television for weather reports. Also, the state Web site – mo.gov – will have emergency information. Anyone considering driving should check the latest road conditions from the Missouri Department of Transportation Web site. The State Highway Patrol can be reached by cell phone at *55. Missourians in need of disaster information, shelter information and referrals can call 2-1-1. The 211 service is now available in most of Missouri. An alternate number to call is 1-800-427-4626.

AUDIO: Brent Martin reports [:60 MP3]

AUDIO: Gov. Nixon news conference with General Danner and Supt. Replogle [21 min MP3]

Filed Under: Fires/Accidents/Disasters, Politics & Government, Transportation Tagged With: ,

Four die in southwest Missouri boating accident

January 29, 2011 By

Four southwest Missouri residents died in a boating accident on the Niangua River in the Lead Mine Conservation area.

The State Highway Patrol reports a Dallas County Conservation agent responded to cries for help up river and found 68-year-old David L. Dixon of Fair Grove clinging to a capsized john boat. Though flown to a Springfield hospital by helicopter, Dixon died later. Investigators found, 43-year-old Hubert “Eugene” Highfill and his 11-year-old son, Jesse, dead at the scene. 62-year-old Doyle “Pete” Cowin apparently died responding to the accident. Investigators found Cowin’s boots on the riverbank. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fires/Accidents/Disasters Tagged With:
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