Friday April 19, 2024
Local Connection
Weather
Traffic
@LouisvilleDispatch
@LouisvilleDisp
Subscribe
Joined by the 265-member Louisville Metro Snow Team, Mayor Greg Fischer declared today that the city is battle ready for winter 2017-18. The declaration came after the Snow Team spent hours working through a mock snow event that included driving all road treatment routes.
Mayor Fischer said, “Most important to the snow fighting effort are the 265 or so men and women who make up the Snow Team. They are the ones who will spring into action any hour of the day, any day of the week, to make it safe for the rest of us to get where we need to go when it snows.”
The Snow Team is led by Metro Public Works under the leadership of Director Vanessa Burns and Assistant Director for Roads and Operations Brian Funk.
Funk will direct the team, which also includes the Public Works Solid Waste Management Division, Metro Parks, the Department of Codes & Regulations, and the Division of Fleet and Facilities.
Louisville will begin the snow season this year with 33,500 tons of salt on hand. A contract is in place to order more if needed. Most of the salt will be stored underground in Louisville Mega Cavern, 1841 Taylor Ave., with about 13,500 tons distributed to four above ground locations, where it will be loaded onto salt spreading vehicles as needed.
The city will also continue to pretreat roads with brine ahead of snowfalls. Brine is a saltwater solution that reduces the adherence of snow and ice to pavement and reduces slick spots.
Snow removal progress can be followed via an interactive online map. During snow events we will post a link to the snow map on the city website www.Louisvilleky.gov and the Department of Public Works site at www.louisvilleky.gov/publicworks. The latest updates will also be posted on Twitter. Just follow the @LouPubWorks profile.
City snow routes include arterial and collector roads, bus routes and roads to major employers and emergency facilities. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and private contractors clear about 600 miles in the city. About 1,000 miles of neighborhood streets are only cleared when a snow emergency has been officially declared.
Emergency Alert System Activation Will Appear as an Actual Tornado Event
The National Weather Service (NWS-KY) and the Kentucky Emergency Alert System (EAS, which includes all Kentucky broadcast radio and TV stations) will conduct a tornado drill in support of the Governor’s order naming February “Severe Storm Preparedness Month.”
This statewide tornado drill will include an activation of the EAS – the loud, screeching tones that we hear on television and radio during times of severe weather. The test will make use of the the ‘live’ Emergency Alert System code “TOR” and is scheduled for Friday, March 3 at 10:07 AM EST. If there is a threat of actual severe weather on the scheduled test day, the test drill will be postponed to March 1st or the first day with non-threatening weather conditions.
The Kentucky State Emergency Communications Committee (SECC) has obtained, from the FCC, a one-time waiver of federal rules to allow broadcasters to legally relay this drill, which can normally only be aired during actual tornado events.
One of the stipulations of the waiver grant is that all broadcasters will make every practicable effort to inform the public that the drill is coming and it will be a test, not an actual emergency. Additionally, since this drill must be originated by regional NWS offices, the message may run twice in some areas.
Fan Fair giveaway event held on July 16
Thanks to the generosity of local businesses, community organizations, and residents, hundreds of electric fans have been collected to provide heat relief for seniors and people with disabilities. A “Fan Fair” giveaway event is scheduled for Saturday, July 16 from 9 a.m. – 12 p. m. at the United Steelworkers Local 1693 headquarters, 1233 S 10th St.
Fans will be available for seniors 60 and older, as well as for individuals with physical disabilities, on a first-come, first-served basis. Fan Fair qualifications and guidelines:
- Person 60 years or older
- OR documentation verified by a physician of a physical disability
- Resident of Jefferson, Oldham, Henry, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble or Bullitt counties
- Proof of address and age
- One fan per household
A Health Fair will coincide with the fan giveaway event to provide basic health checks and information from local resources. Participating vendors include AARP, Kentuckiana Regional Planning & Development Agency (KIPDA), Stroke Association of Kentucky & Southern Indiana, Sickle Cell Association of Kentuckiana, U of L School of Dentistry, the Local Long Term Care Ombudsman, and Louisville Metro Community Services. Louisville Pure Tap water will also be provided.
Fan Fair is sponsored by KIPDA Area Agency on Aging and Independent Living and Louisville Metro Office for Aging & Disabled Citizens (OADC). These organizations joined forces a few weeks ago to implement a fan drive when it became apparent there was a need in the community because of the many calls they were receiving.
The fan drive ended July 8 with more than 250 fans being donated, and more than $2,200 in monetary donations received to purchase additional fans. Some of the many donors include:
- AARP
- Diversicare -Highlands Healthcare and Rehabilitation
- Electrician’s Union #396
- Fastsigns Inc.
- Louisville Elks Lodge #8
- Home Depot
- Lowes
- Park Community Federal Credit Union
- 310 Tempering
- United Steelworkers Local 1693
- WLKY
- Numerous Individual Donors
- Local churches
WLKY served as the media partner providing both on-air and on-line advertising to promote the fan collection and serving as one of the donation drop-off sites. The United Steelworkers Union provided multiple levels of support including collecting fan donations, offering their headquarters for the event venue and recruiting staff and volunteers to help with the fan distribution.
“We are so very grateful for the incredible outpouring of support we’ve received from the Louisville community”, stated Sarah Teeters, Coordinator for OADC, part of Louisville Metro Community Services. “This level of need and interest will hopefully keep this program going every summer.”
“Providing these fans is an immediate step we can take to provide relief to vulnerable members of our community, I am elated that a conversation between two individuals – from two different agencies — turned into such a wonderful response from the community,” stated Jennifer Craig, Aging and Disability Resource Specialist for KIPDA.
Independence Day weekend is here and, with families planning barbecues, fireworks, and other outdoor activities, many are wondering what the weather will be like.
Live weather conditions and forecast information is always available on the Louisville Dispatch weather page. However, it is unlikely that the 2016 Fourth of July weekend will break any records.
The hottest Independence Day on record in Louisville is a tie between 2012 and all the way back in 1911 at 102° while the coldest was in 1968 at only 51°. The rainiest 4th of July was in 1986, when Louisville received just over 5 inches of rain!
Other historical Independence Day weather for locations around Kentucky are listed below:
| Louisville | Lexington | Bowling Green | Frankfort | |
| Highest | 102° (2012,1911) | 99° (2012) | 102° (2012,1874) | 100° (1934) |
| High Avg | 89° (2012,1911) | 86° (1921) | 89° (1897) | 85.5° (1934) |
| Lowest | 51° (1968) | 50° (1968) | 52° (1924,1907) | 49° (1968) |
| Low Avg | 65° (1968) | 63.5° (1909) | 67° (1972,1924) | 62° (1968) |
| Wettest | 5.04″ (1896) | 1.83″ (1935) | 2.40″ (1941) | 2.60″ (1925) |
The Louisville area weather radio transmitter has been disabled due to technical problems. The National Weather Service issued a statement, indicating that the necessary parts to repair the transmitter are on order and that they hope to have the transmitter back up and running by the end of the week.
The weather service apologized for the inconvenience and assured area residents that weather patterns should be quiet through Friday. For current weather conditions, please monitor the Louisville Dispatch weather page.
The KIH43 transmitter site located in New Albany covers the Louisville Metro Area and surrounding areas in southern Indiana and Kentucky. The transmitter operates on a frequency of 162.475 and can normally be heard on radios equipped to receive weather service transmissions. Weather radio programming normally carries forecasts and information about current weather conditions. When severe weather happens, alerts are broadcast with special tones that allow weather radio receivers to be activated in order to warn listeners of the impending dangerous conditions.
Carolyn E. Congleton, DVM
Louisville Metro Animal Services
Each summer Louisville Veterinarians treat numerous cases of heat-stroke and heat-exhaustion in pets. Unfortunately some of these cases end in pet death; sadly nearly 100 % of these cases are preventable. Most heat related deaths are in dogs and horses but sometimes cats can be victims of heat-related illness as well. In dogs the scenario is usually related to “forced exercise” or being left unattended in a car. Very rarely is a free-roaming dog victim of heat-stoke. A dog being chained outside without proper water and shade is also at risk of illness or death.
Dogs should always have access to fresh water and shade or shelter at all times. A dog house with ice water inside is preferable. A large tree in the back yard is excellent shade for people and pets. Because dogs cannot sweat like people they have a hard time regulating their body temperature during exercise. If they are pulled by a leash they can’t voluntarily stop (like we humans can), they just have to keep going even though they are exhausted! If you jog with your pet do so in the early morning before extreme heat. Always watch your pooch for signs of exhaustion such as excessive panting or salivating.
The normal body temperature for a dog in the summer is 101-102 F, temperatures above 105 are in the danger zone and your pet is in trouble. If you have a hunting dog do not hunt in the heat of the day, hunting is also considered forced exercise. Never leave your dog or cat in a parked car. The temperature can skyrocket in a matter of minutes and your pooch could parish!
If you have a horse that is exercised be sure to have water available and remember there should be a “cooling-down period”. Horses transported in trailers need good ventilation and fresh water. Do not leave your horse unattended in a trailer.
For more information contact your local Veterinarian or the American Veterinary Medical Association at www.avma.org
Statewide Tornado Safety Drill Is Feb 23 – 10:07 A.M. EST
Photo: Roland Zumbühl
Governor Matt Bevin has signed a proclamation designating Feb 22 – 28 as Severe Weather Awareness Week in Kentucky. Severe weather is Kentucky’s most common threat, as evidenced by the four weather-related, federally-declared disasters during 2015.
“As evidenced by the severe weather events in the first two months of this year; preparedness efforts of our county EM partners, local emergency responders and citizen outreach, made a dramatic difference in ensuring no injuries or loss of life occurred during these responses”, said Michael Dossett, Director of Kentucky Emergency Management. Dossett went on to say, “Testing your plan during Awareness Week, whether by family members or with your co-workers, ensures we are all ready for the next weather hazard that may challenge the Commonwealth”.
As part of severe weather awareness activities, a statewide tornado drill will be conducted in conjunction with the proclamation.
At approximately 10:07 a.m. EST, Tuesday, Feb 23, the National Weather Service (NWS), in partnership with Kentucky Emergency Management (KYEM), the Kentucky Weather Preparedness Committee and Kentucky Broadcasters Association will issue a test tornado warning message.
Across Kentucky, outdoor warning sirens will sound, weather alert radios will activate, and television and radio stations will broadcast the alert; allowing the public the opportunity to practice tornado safety.
The broadcasted test message will emphasize this is only a test of the alert system. During the test alert all Kentuckians, businesses, hospitals, nursing homes, educators and government agencies are encouraged to participate in the tornado drill and update their emergency plans.
As part of Severe Weather Week activities, Kentucky Education Television (KET) will host the popular live viewer call-in show, “Severe Weather – Staying Safe”. A panel of weather experts field questions from the general public. Callers will be registered to receive one of five NOAA Weather Alert Radios which will be awarded at the end of the show. The show will air live on Monday, Feb 22 at 10:00 p.m. EST. More information is available here.
Being prepared for severe weather starts with identifying threats and risks. The first step for each citizen is to become weather-ready by knowing what types of weather hazards that can affect where they live and work, and how the weather could impact them and their family. Citizens should check local weather forecasts regularly, get a NOAA Weather Radio, and sign up for alerts from local emergency management officials. Severe weather comes in many forms and emergency planning should consider the possibility all types of local hazards. Continue reading