County opens warming shelters, warns of ash-road damage as snowstorm approaches

Effingham County staff reported on Jan. 21 that warming shelters are open and county operations are scaled back as the county prepares for a winter storm that may bring snow and freezing temperatures.

Tim, a county staff member, told the board the county had opened two warming shelters — one in Guyton and one in Rincon — and closed county offices early at 3 p.m. and courts through the following day. "We do currently have two warming shelters, one in Guyton, one in Rincon, open," Tim said. He told the board the county is coordinating with the school district to open more shelters if needed.

Staff said Effingham's limited snow equipment means the county will focus on sanding county-owned bridges and major roads and will use skid steers, motor graders and loaders for plowing if necessary. Tim warned that sustained freezing temperatures can cause damage on ash roads: "The issue is not so much the snow, but the sustained freezing temperatures, which causes any of the vapor that's trapped in the ash to freeze and basically create surface damage on the roads." He said the county will cold-patch damaged surfaces until spring when permanent repairs are possible.

For public updates, Tim said the county's Emergency Management Agency Facebook page will have the most frequent updates, the county Facebook page will be updated as well, and residents who have signed up for the RAVE emergency notification system will receive alerts. "I think the quickest way we can disseminate information is on Facebook," Tim said. Staff also said they will repost a link to sign up for the RAVE system across county communication channels and will publish a citizen support line for non-emergency reports of road hazards.

Ending: The board encouraged residents to prepare for travel impacts and to use county channels for storm updates; commissioners planned an operational check-in at 10 a.m. the following morning to reassess conditions.