Monroe County is prepared to bear the brunt of the winter storm

Bloomington, Indiana – Monroe County emergency management authorities are getting ready for a hectic weekend.

As Bloomington and Monroe County may bear the brunt of this weekend’s significant winter storm, Jamie Neibel, the director of emergency management for Monroe County, says she anticipates a spike in calls this weekend.

Neibel stated, “We’re going to try to put out those travel advisories, watches, and warnings to try to prevent people from being on the roads in the first place. Prevention is going to be our main focus.”

According to Neibel, over 75 county and city trucks—28 from the City of Bloomington, 38 from the county, and 10 from the town of Ellettsville—are scheduled to go on the road.

Her office is focused on three key areas with this storm and is ready to assist first responders in any way they can this weekend.

They are concentrating on rural roads, bridges, and overpasses, and they are advising novice drivers to avoid driving altogether.

Neibel stated, “There is a whole crop of young drivers who have never driven in conditions like this, you know those teenage drivers, young drivers in their 20s, who really haven’t had the opportunity to drive in this, and now is not the time to learn.”

In the meanwhile, INDOT and Indiana State Police are coordinating in advance of the storm.
Monroe County roadways had already been pre-treated by INDOT on Friday evening.

Troops will be out and about starting Saturday morning to make room for INDOT crews, according to Sgt. Matt Ames of the ISP Putnamville post.

“Like any other state police post, we will begin removing all vehicles, including abandoned automobiles, from the interstate, state, and US highways tomorrow (Saturday) at 8 a.m. According to Sgt. Ames, it will enable INDOT to remove the large yellow trucks and treat all of the snow and ice.

Troops will be deployed around the state, and starting Sunday at 6 a.m., Sgt. Ames adds that everyone will be working 12-hour shifts.

In order to avoid driving this weekend, Sgt. Ames is advising Hoosiers to gather what they need now.

We need people to leave right away. If you need to go to the store and pick up a few things to last you a few days, please do so right away. If you wait until Sunday at noon or two in the afternoon, you’re suddenly turning into a road hazard, Sgt. Ames said.