County Dodges Severe Weather
By Greg Ritchie
Messenger Reporter
HOUSTON COUNTY – The rain which hit Houston County Thursday, Jan. 9 may have been heavy at times, cold, and no fun to be in – but the county dodged a winter storm by only a few dozen miles. With school kids across the county praying for a snow day – and a day off from school – the massive winter front swung just north enough to miss our area, leaving only rain, with temperatures still frosty.
Local school superintendents and county officials kept an eye on weather forecasts, as the prognosticators changed the storm’s track every few hours. Originally tapped to be in the path of the wintry, snowy mix, a front coming up from the south left only rain, with schools as close as Athens forced to close for the day.
Heath Murff with the county’s Office of Emergency Management reported no major issues during the storm and no ice on the roads, either. He had been keeping an eye on northern parts of the county especially, worried Grapeland might get some ice on the roadways, but the storm tacked just far enough north to give the county a break.
A little snowfall is always fun, but the storm would have produced icy, dangerous conditions and possibly other problems in the more rural and wooded areas of the county. While no schools were canceled, several local sports events were postponed, due to other teams not wanting to venture too far from home and risk kids on busses.
The storms hit northern Texas much harder, from the panhandle to Texarkana, before continuing east through the southern states. One of the most dangerous aspects of such a storm is the potential loss of electricity, leaving homes cold and dark, putting elderly and children at greater risk.
The area may have dodged this particular storm, but temperatures are still brisk, hovering around freezing at night. Checking in on elderly, people in remote areas and people already weak from illness is always a good idea. Pets and plants should not be forgotten, as even the furriest coat and hardiest breeds of animals can suffer in the cold and wet conditions.
Keeping the pipes clear should not be forgotten, as covering outside spigots and running a light amount of water can save you from frozen pipes and all that entails. Given the brisk winds we have seen lately, you should make sure to secure lighter objects such as patio furniture and other items, so they don’t turn into missiles. Garbage cans can also get turn over, turning that post-holiday trash into a whirling pile of mess you don’t want to be running around trying to collect.
Common sense, as always, is king, but keeping an eye on the weather is always a good idea, as the next winter storm is sure to come, sooner or later.
Greg Ritchie can be reached at [email protected]
