ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. — Orangeburg County is one of the areas expected to experience wintry weather this week, and local leaders and emergency personnel are already taking steps to prepare for the potential impact.
Orangeburg County Emergency Services Director Billy Staley said SCDOT is working with the county to prepare the roads.
“That’s going to cause some problems on the roads, as well, so currently DOT is pretreating most of the major roadways in Orangeburg County," Staley said. "Orangeburg County has its sand truck available and ready if we start getting any ice accumulating on our roads that we can help assist DOT with.”
Staley also warned drivers to be cautious in the days following the potential winter weather.
“Just use caution, be cautious of the black ice. The temperatures are barely going to get above freezing for the next few days, so it will melt a little bit and then it will refreeze, so we just need to be cautious of that and everybody just needs to be safe when they’re driving and, of course, stay warm—that’s the big thing,” Staley said.
North Mayor Jeff Washington said he called a meeting with the town’s police chief late this afternoon to discuss plans for snow, ice, and freezing temperatures.
“In 2000, we weren’t prepared for nothing and we took a bite of it, and I want to be ready,” Washington said.
The town’s preparations include securing thirty bags of ice melt, as Washington emphasized the importance of being prepared for any weather challenges.
“Well we preparing, we want to be cautious with it just incase," Washington said. "I called the chief in, and we’re going to sit down about how we’re going to handle the roads. I called a guy, and I’m getting thirty bags of ice melt, just in case because I know I’m not going to take a chance on this weather. I’m going to be prepared because I think we’re going to get some bad weather.”
Washington also noted that a major road in the town remains closed following floods in November, forcing residents and travelers to find alternative routes on the western side of the county. Many are getting lost while navigating these roads, and the mayor plans to deploy patrols to assist drivers during the expected storm.
“When we get this bad weather, it’s going to be worse because now that the citizens from out of town are going around on Slab Landing and Wood Haven Road and they’re getting lost and I don’t want them to be out there like that,' Washington said. "That’s why I want to make sure we got patrols out there showing them directions how to get through there if we get ice and snow."
Mayor Washington also said that he is looking into opening a warming shelter in anticipation of the coming cold weather.