Gov. Beshear declares state of emergency ahead of arctic front, flash freeze

FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency ahead of dangerous incoming winter weather.

He also encouraged holiday travelers to either get to their destination early or to stay home.

"If you are traveling for Christmas in this area, make sure you get to your ultimate destination by mid-Thursday," Beshear said on Wednesday.

Why mid-Thursday? State emergency leaders expect weather conditions to deteriorate starting Thursday evening. They say an arctic front is expected "to bring a flash freeze and severely cold temperatures, with rain changing to snow Thursday night across much of the Commonwealth." Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph are expected, and wind chills could reach severe lows.

Emergency leaders say the weather could cause broken waterlines, power outages, and damage to public infrastructure and private properties. They believe travel conditions will also be heavily impacted.

"One of our biggest concerns is a flash freeze," said Beshear. "That's when the temperatures drop very, very, very quickly and any rain or snow that is there turns to ice — and with our temperatures, it's going to be very difficult to thaw."

Transportation Secretary Jim Gray said that a fleet of 1,365 state-owned and contracted plow trucks is available to be deployed across Kentucky. That's in addition to each individual county's plows.

Gray says the state has also stockpiled over 300,000 tons of salt, nearly 1 million gallons of brine for anti-icing efforts, and more than 1 million gallons of calcium chloride, which is added to salt to help with de-icing.

“Our forces are prepped with stocked supplies and equipment to respond to winter weather threats, and they will be on alert through the holiday weekend,” said Gray.

However, Gray points out that the weather will create challenges. For example, many of Kentucky's highway districts will be unable to pre-treat roads because of the initial rain that's expected.

"Rain would just wash away the brine," said Gray.

"This arctic front, by all indications, presents significant potential hazards," added Gray. "Don't get complacent when you hear that the expected snowfall might be fairly light. And why is that? Well, a combination of light, powdery snow and wind gusts of up to 40 and 50 miles per hour can quickly create white-out conditions on the highway."

"You can be driving along and suddenly, all traces of the roadway just disappear."

For those who need to be on the road, like essential workers, State Police encourage people to prepare.

“Wear your seat belts, slow down, leave more space between cars, and prep your car with the necessary supplies in the event you become stranded,” said KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr.

“If you must drive and experience a wreck or become stuck on the roadways, please be patient," Burnett added. "Depending on the amount of winter weather the commonwealth receives and the number of roadway closures, emergency personnel may become very busy.”

KSP had created a list of winter items that drivers should place in their cars before the weather sets in. It includes a winter weather kit with a cell phone charger, blankets, a first-aid kit, jumper cables, a windshield scraper, a collapsible shovel, and a flashlight with extra batteries.

In addition to avoiding the roads, Kentuckians are also encouraged to make sure they have food, water, and a way to stay warm.

Emergency leaders say it's important to bundle up and use any heating equipment safely.

“In the event of a power outage, never use a generator indoors,” said Kentucky Emergency Management Director Jeremy Slinker. “Place the generator a safe distance from the home – at least 10 to 15 feet. Please use carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors."

"With these sub-zero temperatures, we also need people to dress in layers, as hypothermia is a real threat," he added. "And please take time to protect pets and livestock, which are also at threat.”