Mayor Craig Greenberg thanked residents Sunday for following weather advisories and asked them to remain at home through today and Monday so crews can safely clear Louisville’s roads during the winter storm.
“Most folks are staying home, which is great for their safety and will help our city get back to full strength quicker,” Greenberg said.
Louisville’s snow team has been working around the clock in 12-hour shifts to keep streets clear. The effort includes 70 trucks — 60 from Louisville and 10 from contractors — along with about 200 snow team members.
Since last winter, the city has added $3 million in new equipment and pretreated 900 miles of roadways using brine with magnesium chloride and molasses. Crews have now switched to calcium chloride to improve effectiveness in extremely cold temperatures.
Public Works Director Wes Sydnor urged residents to avoid driving when possible, slow down if travel is necessary, and use extra caution on bridges and overpasses.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet official Matt Bullock said state crews and more than 50 contract trucks are keeping interstates passable, at times using multiple trucks in tandem to clear lanes more efficiently.
Deputy Chief Steve Healy said the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has temporarily suspended enforcement of evictions and set-outs until at least Feb. 2 to protect about 30 families during the storm. He also thanked deputies who are assisting essential personnel and supporting warming stations.
Mayor Greenberg emphasized the availability of shelters and warming locations as Louisville remains under “white flag” conditions, which allow shelters to accept all individuals experiencing homelessness. The Heart Team and partner organizations are actively transporting people to shelter.
Libraries and neighborhood centers are open to provide warming, phone charging, and planning assistance. Four libraries will be open Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Newburg Library, Western Library, Southwest Regional Library, and St. Matthews Library. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Bridges of Hope and the Shawnee Neighborhood Place will also be open.
LMPD Sergeant Matt Sanders said officers have removed 35 vehicles from snow routes and encouraged residents to use online reporting for minor crashes to help keep roads clear.
Emergency Operations Center Director Jody Miman said LG&E restored a major West End power outage affecting 5,000 customers in about 90 minutes and continues working to restore power in Fairdale.
“Thanks to everyone for staying home and allowing our crews to do their work,” Greenberg said. “Your patience is helping keep our city safe.”
Leave a Comment