As snow falls, officials urge everyone to stay home

Residents of Poplar Bluff and surrounding areas likely went to bed with no snow on the ground, only to wake up to blankets of white covering everything. And, while it may be tempting to drive around and see how everything is looking, local officials are urging people to stay home.

According to Poplar Bluff Chief of Police Mike McClain, as of 10 a.m. Friday, there had been at least seven stranded vehicles reported. The Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop E Information Officer Sgt. Clark Parrott said that by 10 a.m., troopers had responded to 15 different traffic crashes and 21 stranded motorists.

“People absolutely need to stay home,” Parrott advised. “If it’s not an emergency, then people should take advantage of the fact that it’s Friday and have a long weekend. It’s not worth getting out unless you have to.”

Poplar Bluff Street Department Director Jerry Lawson explained multiple crews are doing what they can.

“We have two road graders, two dump trucks with plow blades, and six pickup trucks with plows, and we’re clearing what we can,” Lawson noted at 11 a.m. “The problem is that the snow is continuing to fall, so we clear one area and have to return a short time later to clear it again.”

To add to the difficulty, Lawson explained there appears to be a layer of moisture underneath all the snow that makes traction even more challenging for vehicles.

“I personally have seen a few vehicles struggling to get around, and some have been abandoned,” Lawson remarked. “It’s especially challenging on hills and at traffic lights. I agree that everyone should stay home. I know it’s Friday and people want to get our and do things, but we want everyone to be safe.”

Lawson went on to explain that city crews are primarily focused on the more heavily traveled thoroughfares in town while snow continues to fall — but they will start to clear secondary routes after the snow stops.

“Right now our focus is just keeping all the major roads as clear as we can.”

Lawson advised that if someone feels the absolute need to travel, they should give themselves enough time to travel and exercise extreme caution.

“Hopefully the snow won’t stay long,” Lawson remarked. “We’re just going to do what we can while we can. We want everyone to be safe.”