KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Little Rock City Manager, representatives from multiple City Departments and other storm response organizations met Monday morning at the City’s Emergency Operations Center for pre-storm briefing.
• “The City is prepared and ready for the approaching weather event,” said Little Rock City Manager Bruce T. Moore.
• Public Works crews continue to operate on 12-hour shifts, around-the-clock, with approximately 90 staff members on the day shift and 38 on the night shift.
• Police and Fire Departments along with Emergency Response crews remain at the ready.
• Jericho Way Day Resource Center will continue to operate as normal and van drivers will run routes throughout the City to pick up anyone who needs a ride to a shelter.

LITTLE ROCK – Little Rock City Manager Bruce T. Moore met with representatives from multiple City Departments and other storm response organizations at the City’s Emergency Operations Center Monday morning. The consensus: The City of Little Rock is prepared for a new round of winter weather expected to impact the region Monday and Tuesday.

“In anticipation of more severe winter weather, I convened a pre-storm briefing Monday to coordinate storm preparations among City Departments and other local organizations that will respond to any winter weather,” said Moore. “The City is prepared and ready for the approaching weather event.”

“I encourage citizens to pay close attention to weather reports and warnings as predictions are continuously changing,” Moore continued.

Public Works crews continue to operate on 12-hour shifts with approximately 90 staff members on the day shift and 38 on the night shift. Around-the-clock shifts will continue until roads are clear. Materials are mixed and distributed with sufficient sand and salt in stock to respond to this event with additional materials being delivered this week. The City has 10 large spreader trucks, two small spreader trucks and two road graders in operation.

Police and Fire Departments along with Emergency Response crews remain at the ready—with vehicles prepared for snowy conditions—to respond as the storm arrives. These crews ask that any drivers that must be on the road be mindful of emergency vehicles. Additionally, they ask that drivers avoid blocking intersections and major streets as this dramatically hinders emergency response times.

Fleet Services staff have kept Public Works, Police and Fire equipment and vehicles in operation throughout this winter season and they will work similar 12-hour shifts.

During the day, The City’s Jericho Way Day Resource Center will continue to operate as normal. Van drivers will run routes throughout the City to pick up anyone who needs a ride to a shelter including the Compassion Center, Salvation Army or Union Rescue Mission as well as the Dream Center which will be open at 8:00 p.m. Monday and Tuesday evenings.

At the meeting were representatives from City of Little Rock Public Works, Fleet Services, Emergency Management, Police Department, Fire Department, Homeless Outreach, Housing and Neighborhood Programs and Parks and Recreation. Also in attendance were representatives from Entergy Arkansas, Little Rock School District, Metropolitan Housing Alliance, Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services (MEMS) and Red Cross Arkansas.

###