Sun shining, Travel conditions still hazardous

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX – The sun is out and temperatures are rising gradually, most of our area will be in the upper 30’s by this afternoon.

We recognize that most roadways have improved, but travel conditions remain hazardous. If you need to get out on the roads, please continue to use extreme caution and maintain a low rate of speed. There could still be ice on the roads today and through tonight as the temperatures are expected to drop below freezing again.

At the height of the wintery weather we saw all of our roads impacted by ice and snow, with over 26 major road closures. Montgomery County did see one fatality as a result of an auto accident on Hwy 105.

Over the last 48 hours, we also saw between 300 and 600 homes lose power as a result of the storm. Our Power companies’ worked diligently to get powered restored, and at the time of this release all power has been restored.

We witnessed one house fire related injury, where the victim suffered 2nd degree burns and was transported to the hospital for treatment.

We continue to stress the importance of winter safety, and below are some heating safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association:
Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fire deaths. Half of home heating equipment fires are reported during the months of December, January, and February. Some simple steps can prevent most heating-related fires from happening.
• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.
• Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
• Never use your oven to heat your home.
• Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.
• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
• Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.
• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.
• Test smoke alarms at least once a month.

Remember your neighbors around you, and check on anyone that has limited mobility. Our winter weather will still be with us through tonight, so do not forget your 4 P’s, People, Pets, Pipes, and Plants.

For help and information on preparing for disasters, download our new preparedness app ReadyMCTX to your mobile device. Now is the time to prepare.

To receive emergency alerts to your phone or email from Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management, register at https://www.mc911.org/page/ecd.AlertMCTX. When you are creating your profile, you must check the box next to Share my Smart911 Profile with TX-Montgomery-County-911 to support emergency preparedness.

Learn more on the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management website www.mctxoem.org.

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