Expecting a weather system with a “double-punch,” officials from across Boyle County met Thursday afternoon with emergency management officials to learn more about what weather is likely to arrive in the region over the weekend.
“This is a very fluid system. It can change at any moment without notice,” said Mike Wilder, Boyle County Emergency management director. “We are right on the border of the ice and snow and rain. That could move down and we get all rain or it could move up and we get a lot of snow and ice.”
The storm anticipated is actually two storms in one, according to the National Weather Service.
“The second system that’s coming on Saturday night and Sunday, I think they’re a little bit more concerned about than the first one. Temperature is going to determine everything,” Wilder said, adding that the ground is fairly warm, which will take away some of the strength. “It depends on how quick that arctic air overtakes that warm air.”
Currently, the National Weather Service predicts Boyle County will see rain until sometime Friday afternoon. At that point, the rain could change over to a wintry mix. By Friday night, it is predicted some portions of Boyle, Garrard and all of Mercer will face snow, while southern portions of Boyle and Garrard, along with Lincoln and Casey, will see the wintry mix continue. This could total one to three inches of snow, one inch of sleet or one-fourth of an inch of ice for parts of the region. Other portions of the state could see up to one inch of snow, one half of an inch of sleet or one-tenth of an inch of ice. Overall, some parts of Kentucky could expect up to four inches of snow.
The meeting at the Danville-Boyle County 911 center also was used to refresh everyone involved with the emergency levels:
n Level 5: The lowest level of incident or event. It can generally be managed by the emergency management director or a designated person, does not usually require deployment of more than one resource and is a limited length of time, not more than 24-hours.
n Level 4: Requires more than just the emergency management director and usually requires additional resources. Incidents are not long-term events, usually closed-out within one or two operational periods, or about 24- to 48-hours. May require a formal activation of the Danville-Boyle County Emergency Operations Center and Incident Command System, which means bringing all the officials or representatives for the various cities and county positions together to join resources and operations.
n Level 3: Requires immediate activation of the EOC and command system structure to manage the multiple resources and responders being used over a longer period of time. This event is of an extended duration and will be managed through several operational periods. It also requires the development and activation of an action plan.
n Level 2: This level takes in all actions in the previous one, with the possible introduction of state resources, and full activation of the command system. There is no defined length of time anticipated.
n Level 1: Considered a catastrophic incident or of high impact, this level requires full activation of all local, county and state assets and integration of the command system with state and possibly federal resources. It is a long-term, undefined level.
“Be weather aware,” is the message the local emergency management office wants residents to note. One of the ways to do that, Wilder says, is to sign up for the county’s CodeRed system, which will notify individuals for any type of emergency. To do so, visit www.boyleky.com/emergency_notification.html. Follow the directions on screen to sign up. Wilder also said he willing to help anyone who may be having trouble in signing up to use the system.
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