FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear has declared a state of emergency for Kentucky as a severe winter storm is expected to move through the area Thursday into Friday.
During a press briefing Wednesday, the governor said this storm is expected to bring a dangerous amount of ice to the Commonwealth, affecting travel and possibly knocking out power.
According to the National Weather Service, ice accumulations are expected to be between 1/4 to 3/4 of an inch. Beshear said this level of ice could be "debilitating" as it can create hazardous road conditions and damage power lines.
Kentucky Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett said Kentucky could see more ice than the Feb. 2021 storm, but not as much accumulation as the storm from 2009, when more than 1.5 inches of ice was recorded.
Members of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, National Guard and Kentucky State Police will be stationed along major interstates and roads so they are available to respond to emergency situations, something Beshear said is "rarely done."
"We want to be ready," Beshear said Wednesday.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) Secretary Jim Gray called the preparations for this storm a collaborative effort.
Gray said the National Weather Service is predicting that the ice will create "difficult to impossible travel conditions" Thursday into Friday morning and stressed the importance of people staying off the roads.
"This is the real deal," Gray said.
KYTC is ready to use more than 1,300 pieces of equipment and upwards of 2,000 available employees to respond to emergency situations on the roads. Due to the rain, crews can't treat roads yet but Gray said they will begin to put down salt as soon as the precipitation transitions to something that won't wash it away.
Dossett urged drivers to stay off the roads and advised that if you get stranded and have to be rescued, you are taking away resources from people who may be in life-threatening situations.
Maj. General Hal Lamberton with the Kentucky National Guard said guard members will be ready to respond at hubs throughout the commonwealth. They will be working with the transportation cabinet to help vehicles that might get stuck. Once the storm hits, Lamberton said they will conduct wellness checks and help clear vehicles and debris off roadways.
Beshear called for state office buildings to be closed Thursday to keep employees off the roads.
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