The below information is being forwarded as a courtesy on behalf of the Joint Information Center in Indianapolis as part of the continued monitoring of the winter storm.
INDIANAPOLIS – Motorists are strongly encouraged to take steps to avoid getting stuck when crashes or snow drifts close Hoosier roads. With snow falling at a rate of an inch or more per hour, to be followed by blowing and drifting snow, your vehicle may not be able to move once the road is reopened. If it is safe to do so, drivers are urged to turn around or find an alternate route to the closest safe shelter.
The Indiana Department of Transportation has a full deployment of yellow trucks plowing and treating the interstates, U.S. highways and state routes in the hardest hit portions of Indiana. While the trucks are effective in plowing accumulating and drifting snow, drivers need to do their part to keep the roads open so the plow trucks can do their job. INDOT’s trucks cannot plow through parked or stopped vehicles.
Governor Mike Pence has activated 24 Highway Assistance Teams with the Indiana National Guard, consisting of 96 individuals, to rescue stranded motorists and assist local EMS in reaching individuals who need medical attention. Each team has four individuals and two vehicles.
Drivers are strongly encouraged to not put themselves, local emergency medical services, the National Guard or other public safety professionals in harm’s way. Please listen to and follow county travel advisories to stay off the roads, both during the storm and during the blowing and drifting predicted to follow the storm.
The Indiana State Police and other law enforcement agencies encourage the public to keep phone lines open for emergencies. Road conditions are available at http://indot.carsprogram.org/ or by dialing toll-free 800-261-ROAD (7623). For up-to-date county travel statuses, Hoosiers are encouraged to visit http://www.in.gov/dhs/traveladvisory/.
FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION FROM THE INDIANA STATE POLICE ON THE WINTER STORM, visit our webpagehttp://www.in.gov/isp/3096.htm. This page reads and flows like a blog page. This will continue to be updated for the duration of the storm over the next few days.
