JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Mayor Donna Deegan, along with other city officials, provided an update on winter storm preparations Tuesday evening, urging Northeast Florida residents to avoid traveling on icy roads.
Deegan reiterated that city offices and Duval County schools would be closed on Wednesday. (Click here to see a full list of closures)
Two additional warming centers were also opened. The Jacksonville Transportation Authority will provide free rides to the warming centers.
- West Branch Library, 1425 Chaffee Road South, 32221
- Cecil Gym and Fitness Center, 13531 Lake Newman Street, 32221
- Legends Center, 5130 Soutel Drive, 32208
The centers will be open until noon Wednesday.
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While the mayor said there weren’t any plans in place to close any bridges, her main concern is ice covering the roads.
“The safest place to be is at home,” Deegan said. “We’re not expecting, I believe, wind to be a situation. That’s usually why we would close the bridges,” Deegan said.
But this could change depending on conditions.
Jacksonville Sheriff’fs Office Director Joe Cowan echoed the same statements.
“If you don’t need to be out on the roads, please stay at home,” he said.
JSO will also maintain normal operations to assist in any traffic-related issues.
The Florida Department of Transportation pretreated state bridges and highways to stop ice from forming.
Deegan also said the city has sand on standby.
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“Public Works is ready for any conditions that become icy to go out there and sand the roads to create some friction,” she said.
Fire Chief Keith Powers shared fire safety reminders during the news conference.
“Be prepared for power outages should some of these frozen limbs fall,” Powers said.
He urged families to create a safety plan that includes identifying a meeting point should they have to leave the house.
During a news conference Deegan recalled dealing with the snowstorm back in 1989, noting that it was a traumatizing experience.
“I can take from that experience is if I didn’t have to get in the car, I darn sure wouldn’t because I can’t count the number of times on that one journey that I felt my car slide and had no control over it,” Deegan said. “It’s a tough thing to drive on ice here. We’re just not very skilled at those things.
Watch the entire news conference below: