West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey on Winter Storm Response and Safety

Winter Storm Impact and Response

• ❄️ West Virginia is experiencing a dangerous combination of snow, sleet, ice, and extreme cold, with temperatures forecast to remain below freezing for several days.
• ⚠️ The governor urges all West Virginians to stay home and off the roads due to hazardous conditions, including widespread black ice on bridges and overpasses, and falling branches.
• 🛠️ Highway crews have logged nearly 44,000 equipment hours and over 68,000 manpower hours, applying approximately 41,000 tons of salt and 390,000 gallons of brine and beet juice mixture.

Emergency Management and Public Safety

• 🚨 The State Operations Emergency Management is activated and monitoring the situation closely, with law enforcement also tracking calls for assistance.
• 🏥 Healthcare and medical systems remain stable, with hospitals operational and no major issues reported.
• 📞 Citizens needing assistance, such as access to warming stations, food, or water, are advised to call 211.

Power Outages and Infrastructure

• 💡 Power outages have decreased significantly from over 40,000 to approximately 19,000, a testament to the hard work of linemen and restoration crews.
• ⚡ Continued efforts are underway to restore power to all affected residents.

Federal Coordination and Future Preparedness

• 🤝 The state has been in close contact with FEMA and received a swift emergency declaration from the Trump administration to aid in coordination and resource mobilization.
• 🌊 While the immediate focus is on cold weather, preparedness for potential flooding as the weather changes is also being discussed with emergency management teams and the National Guard is on standby.

Employer and Public Guidance

• 🏢 Employers are encouraged to allow employees who can work from home to do so to ensure their safety.
• 📰 The public is advised to follow updates from the National Weather Service and local media for the latest information.