Hazardous winter conditions expected over the weekend

Warming center being planned at fairgrounds for refuge from storm for motorists, if people lose power

A hazardous weather warning in Morgan County begins late on Saturday night, March 13, and extends all the way until Monday morning, March 15, leaving emergency ser vices preparing for stranded drivers and anyone who loses power as a result of the storm.

On Friday night, March 12, a Winter Storm Watch begins, and snow accumulation of anywhere from 4 to 14 inches is possible before the storm system moves out of Morgan County on Monday, according to the National Weather Ser vice. The snow is expected to cause problems for drivers, and at least one warming center is being prepared to accom

modate them at the Mark Arndt Event Center at the Morgan County Fairground in Brush. Other warming centers could be added over the weekend if needed. Offering such warming centers/shelters last occurred in Morgan County just after Thanksgiving 2019.

“We opened up warming centers across the county, and we had quite a few strange motorists that were either driving to warming centers or there are a lot of motorists that are content towaitoutthestormor just park on the side of the roads. We check on them, but we don’t necessarily bring them to the warming center,” Brush Police Chief and Emergency Ser vices Manager Derek Bos said.

If the need for warming centers persists and hotels become sold out, they then will be conver ted into temporar y shelters.

“A warming center is basically a place where we can take people where they can stay warm. There’s usually food, there’s water, there’s bathrooms, and that’s kind of the extent of a warming center,” Chief Bos explained. “A shelter is that, plus there’s usually some sor t of accommodations for cots for people to sleep.”

The warming centers and shelters are manned with volunteers from different organizations across the county.

“We have the Red Cross; they have a presence. We have a lot of churches that are ver y involved. We have the Moose Lodge that helps out. We have the Rotar y Club, and we have the Lions Club,” Chief Bos said.

Snow will be intermixed with rain on Saturday and

Sunday, as temperatures fluctuate above and below freezing. Gusts of wind up to 28 miles per hour could fur ther complicate travel on those days.

“Apply common sense and, obviously, if the roads are bad, stay home,” Chief Bos said.

Paul Acosta / Courtesy photo A temporary shelter was set up Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, at the Mooose Lodge in Brush for stranded motorists during a strong winter storm. Volunteers and public safety workers are setting up a warming center at the Mark Arndt Event Center at the Morgan County Fairgrounds for any stranded motorists or people who lose power this weekend, March 13-15, as another storm is expected to hit Morgan County.