A major stretch of central and southeastern Kentucky remains under a winter storm warning.
Jackson Meteorologist Kevin Sullivan says counties in these areas face the likelihood of accumulating ice, anywhere between a quarter to a half inch on trees and power lines. Sullivan said a quarter inch of ice buildup on electrical lines can present problems. “Our criteria for issuing an ice storm warning which most of eastern Kentucky is under an ice storm warning right now is a quarter inch of ice. And that’s generally when we talk about starting to see power outages from ice. That’s why we use a quarter inch in conjunction with what we learned from power companies and what they tell us,” said Sullivan.
Governor Beshear said canceled coronavirus vaccinations at Kroger sites, originally scheduled Thursday, have been pushed back a week. State and local officials both suggest avoiding travel as much as possible. Transportation Secretary Jim Gray said be patient with road clearing efforts since there could likely be the need to address downed trees as well. Eastern Kentucky University has announced it’s moving to all virtual classes through Friday.
In Lexington, Mayor Linda Gorton noted the top priority is to keep the public safe. Office of Homelessness Prevention and Intervention Director Polly Ruddick said shelter space is not an issue. “Anyone who wants and seeks emergency shelter has access to emergency shelter. So under our emergency winter weather plan, we provide an emergency shelter bed for anyone who seeks emergency shelter,” said Ruddick.
Ruddick added local sheltering has expanded into motel housing where needed.
Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said officers will be assisting in transportation of the homeless. Assistant Fire Chief Robert Larkin noted it’s important to adhere to safety measures for alternate heating and be aware of carbon monoxide dangers that can come with improperly placed generators.
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