The City of Carmel’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has reduced its staffing to an on-call basis. Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard changed the level of staffing after confirming that the worst of the winter storm has past for this area and that there are no significant emergencies currently in the City or county. Carmel’s EOC remains ready to reopen if necessary. Hamilton County’s emergency management is also currently operating on-call.
Shelters
There were no citizens reporting to the designated emergency shelters overnight. The Carmel Police Officers who had been on site overnight at each of those sites have been released, but are on stand-by in case the need arises to re-open an emergency shelter.
Streets
Carmel Street Department crews, using 67 trucks with plows, have been working overnight to continue clearing the more than 450 miles of city streets. While there may be another 1-2 inches of snow today, Street Commissioner, Dave Huffman, does not expect there to be significant accumulation. Based on the weather services that Huffman uses to make his assessments, he believes that the snowfall will end at about 3 p.m. and the winds will die down at about 10 p.m. Therefore, crews are still fighting the elements to keep mains and secondary roads passable.
Once the winds stop blowing and drifting the snow, crews will be able to clear mains and secondary roads and start working on residential streets. Street crews must approach the clearing of ice-packed roads much differently than when only snow is present. Crews will treat the roads to begin melting the ice and return later, which could be as long as 24 hours, to try and clear the sleet and ice off the roads. Sun is predicted for tomorrow and Friday, which along with warmer temperatures will help the process. However, street crews ask for your patience as they battle the ice-packed roads.