Gov. Ivey issues state of emergency
As of press time, Coosa County is included in a “limited impact area” with winter driving conditions possible, and the county is under a winter weather advisory as of press time. Image courtesy of the U.S. National Weather Service.
By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
Gov. Kay Ivey has issued a state of emergency for 37 counties, including Coosa, ahead of this week’s winter weather.
Ivey also issued the following comment:
“Cold temperatures have persisted in Alabama this week, and we are anticipating the potential for winter weather to impact our state, particularly our driving conditions. As we all know, winter weather is challenging in a state like Alabama due to forecast uncertainties. That being said, I encourage Alabamians to make any needed preparations today, and if you are in an impacted area and do not have to be on the road, try to avoid it. Keep an eye on your local forecasts and stay weather aware.”
The counties in the state of emergency include Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Coosa, Cullman, DeKalb, Elmore, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lee, Limestone, Macon, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Pickens, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, and Winston.
The state of emergency went into effect yesterday at 1 p.m. and will remain in effect for the duration of this state of emergency. Alabama law specifies that a state of emergency ordinarily will last 60 days; however, it may be terminated earlier by written proclamation.
In part, the governor’s proclamation reads, “Whereas the National Weather Service is forecasting that certain counties in northern Alabama may be severely affected by ice, snow, sleet, and freezing rain, as well as extreme and prolonged freezing temperatures, beginning in the evening hours of Thursday, January 9; whereas this winter weather event could cause significant damage to public and private property and poses a danger to the health and safety of the people of Alabama, including potential disruption of essential utility systems, personal injury, and loss of life.”
The proclamation further reads that state government offices may be closed “at the direction of the governor” and that “state agency heads will receive instructions from the governor’s office or the state personnel director if closures are authorized.”
Ivey’s proclamation also states that local educational authorities may close any school or office based on local conditions, “and any affected school system that is closed as a result and loses student days or employment days, or both, may appeal to the state superintendent of education for relief in fulfilling the local school calendar with respect to student days or employee days, or both, with no loss of income to employees.”
The Coosa County Courthouse and Coosa County schools announced that they would be closed today because of the possibility of wintry precipitation and icy road conditions, with other offices also potentially being closed today because of weather conditions.
