Warnings from the National Weather Service continue to mount as an even colder weekend looms in Greenwood.
NWS has issued three emergency weather statements for the Greenwood area as of this morning. A flood and hard freeze warning accompanied a hazardous weather outlook.
T.W. Cooper, emergency management director for Leflore County, said city and county crews are preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.
“We’ve already talked with emergency and road crews, and they are prepared for whatever may happen,” Cooper said this morning.
Snow is likely beginning Wednesday night through Thursday, although the weather service is not predicting how much accumulation is possible.
The approaching cold front will also bring frigid arctic air from Thursday into the weekend.
It’s expected to bottom out at a frosty 11 degrees Friday night with a dip into the single digits possible.
“We could see the coldest temperatures in 30 years this week,” Mike Womack, executive director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, said in a prepared statement. “This is one of those emergencies we can see coming, and people should prepare themselves.”
Cooper said it is important to be prepared for this kind of weather. This includes keeping warm clothes in the home or vehicle along with extra supplies that do not require cooking, in case of a power outage.
“A lot of people will turn the heat up when the weather gets cold or turn to alternate heat when the power goes out,” Cooper said. “The best thing you can do is just put on good, warm clothes.”
Cooper said the vehicle should be stocked with enough supplies to survive in case the vehicle becomes stranded.
“We are hoping this is all a scare,” Cooper said.
The weather service is also requesting storm spotters, ham radio operators and emergency support personnel to be alert Wednesday night into Thursday.
The warning of cold weather comes after Monday's snow flurries, which lasted much of the morning. It was the first snowfall in the Delta this year.
“When I woke up, I couldn’t believe it was snowing,” said Danetra James of Itta Bena. “The weather has been really crazy this year. Too bad it wasn’t on time for Christmas.”
Snow is predicted to be likely shortly after 3 a.m. Wednesday until before 2 p.m. Sunday.
To view a full cold weather preparation guide by the Centers for Disease Control, visit: www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/takesteps/
Protect your pipes
A hard freeze warning means pipes could freeze and burst. A news release from State Farm Insurance recommends taking these precautions:
nOpen cabinet doors to allow heat to get to piping under sinks and vanities near exterior walls.
- Run a small trickle of water from hot and cold faucets during extreme cold.
- Keep exterior doors to unheated spaces closed as much as possible during winter months.
- If you plan to be away for an extended period, have the water system professionally drained.
- If you are taking a short trip, have a neighbor check the house frequently.
- Disconnect outside garden hoses.
Protect your pets
The American Animal Hospital Association offers these tips for keeping your pet safe in winter:
- Keep pets inside as much as you can. If you have to take them out, stay outside with them. When you're cold enough to go inside, they probably are, too.
- If you absolutely must leave them outside for a significant length of time, make sure they have a warm, solid shelter against the wind, thick bedding, and plenty of non-frozen water.
- Cats will curl up against almost anything to stay warm —including car engines. Cats caught in moving engine parts can be seriously hurt or killed. Before you turn your engine on, check beneath the car or make a lot of noise by honking the horn or rapping on the hood.
- If you live near a pond or lake, be very cautious about letting a dog off its leash.
- Pets that go outside can pick up rock salt, ice, and chemical ice melts in their foot pads. To keep your pet's pads from getting chapped and raw, wipe its feet with a washcloth when it comes inside.
- Keep an eye on your pet's water to make sure it hasn’t frozen.
- Be particularly gentle with elderly and arthritic pets. The cold can leave their joints extremely stiff and tender.
