WINTER STORM UPDATE

Winter storm conditions continue in much of the state. Freezing rain followed by snow and high winds have made travel in much of Southern Indiana inadvisable. Significant snow and some ice are expected to cause hazardous travel conditions today. In addition wind gusts of 35 to 40 mph may cause whiteout conditions leading to dangerous travel.

State EOC Staffing

The State of Indiana Emergency Operations Center increased staffing as of 7 a.m. Wednesday, December 26, 2012. In the EOC are: Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana State Police, Indiana National Guard, Indiana Department of Transportation, Utility Regulatory Commission.

Travel Advisory Map

Citizens are asked to carefully consider whether travel is necessary. Consult the Indiana Travel Advisory Map at getprepared.in.gov. If you must drive during any period of the storm, make sure you have a fully charged and functioning cell phone.  IDHS also recommends carrying blankets, extra water, a small shovel and other items which may be helpful if you find yourself in trouble on the road.

Shelters

The Indiana State Fairgrounds has a shelter for Marion County. For more information, contact the City of Indianapolis. 

Power Outages

There are currently 944 people without power in the state:
Vectren – 217 without power

South Central REMC – 278 without power

NIPSCO – 123 without power

IPL – 94 without power

Duke Energy – 232 without power

Response Personnel

Ten Indiana National Guard Highway Assistance Teams (HAT) have been mobilized around the state. Two each in Evansville, Vincennes, Terre Haute, and Indianapolis, with one team in Muncie and one team in Richmond. Each HAT consists of four personnel and two humvees. Each team is assisting in rescuing stranded motorists and taking them to shelters. The National Guard also has two command and control units deployed to assist Indiana Department of Homeland Security efforts around the states. In total, over 100 Indiana National Guard Personnel are responding to the storm.

Indiana Department of Transportation continues to plow interstates, U.S. highways and state routes with approximately 700 trucks.

General Information

With weather systems like this it's not uncommon to see widespread power outages. If customers experience a power outage, they should report it to their electric utility by calling the company directly. While utility companies will be working to quickly repair any outages, storms of this size and magnitude often make it very difficult to restore power immediately. Charge cell phones, laptops and other devices now so that if power goes out, you will have a maximum charge on electronic devices. Be sure to have food and water for three days, a battery operated or hand crank all hazards radio, flashlights, extra batteries, extra blankets and extra clothing.

If you can’t stay in your home due to cold temperatures, call your local authorities to find the location of a shelter.

Since the storm hit the Indianapolis area the Indianapolis state police post has received over 170 calls for service with 159 of the calls being reports of single or multiple vehicle crashes

Interstate exit and on ramps are slick and hazardous – avoid traveling until the storm passes and state and county road crews are able to clear the roads.

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CONTACT INFO FOR MEDIA ONLY:

IDHS: PIO on duty 317.234.6713 or pio@dhs.in.gov