Weather conditions expected to get worse through day

Mississippi County will be facing the brunt of a major winter storm throughout the day Friday and over the weekend, but as of Friday morning, conditions in Blytheville were not treacherous.

Blytheville Police Chief Ross Thompson said Blytheville city streets were relatively clear throughout the night Thursday and into Friday morning, but urged drivers to be cautious as many of the roads are "deceptively slick" despite not having significant ice buildup.

Highway and overpass conditions around Blytheville were not as fair, however, according to Thompson. A number of wrecks have occurred on Interstate 55, particularly near exit ramps and on overpasses. BPD and other state and county agencies worked as many as eight wrecks simultaneously overnight. No injuries were reported from any of the accidents.

Thompson said this morning's conditions aren't his biggest concern, rather how bad it will get as the day continues.

"My concern is that this is not supposed to get any better as the day goes by," Thompson said. "This is as good as it gets."

With the temperatures dropping and many turning to personal heaters, Blytheville Fire Chief Mike Carney warns people about using space heaters, and said to give them 3 feet of clearance. Citizens should not leave heaters unattended or on while sleeping.

For those using generators in case of power outages, Carney said people should make sure the generators are in a well-ventilated area, preferably outside. Indoor, UL-approved kerosene and propane heaters are also a safe source of heat. If the power is out, Carney said avoid using candles. Instead use flashlights, lanterns and glowsticks as light sources.

"We learned a lot in the 2009 ice storm, and the glowsticks really work well to light up a room," Carney said.

But most importantly, Carney encourages people to stay inside.

Pam Knapp-Carver, with the Northeast Arkansas Chapter of the Red Cross, echoed Carney, advising people to "stay put" unless it was absolutely necessary for them to be out and about.

"Gather up all the blankets you have and be prepared to snuggle and play board games," Knapp-Carver said.

If someone does need to be out, Knapp-Carver said to make sure they have plenty of fuel in their vehicle, flashlights, an extra coat, a blanket and water incase motorists are stranded in the storm.

Knapp-Carver advises that people should be sure listen to local media outlets as much as possible for updates and, if possible, keep a battery operated radio nearby.

Knapp-Carver also said the Red Cross is prepared to open shelters across the county, but won't make any decisions until they can evaluate the number of power outages.

Other helpful tips include:

-- Bring pets indoors if possible

-- Leave water running in bath and sink faucets

-- Disconnect any water hoses

-- Have plenty of water, flashlights and batteries on stock

-- Never use candles to illuminate a room if the power is out

cpinkard@blythevillecourier.com