| All area schools still closed but FLW personnel to report as scheduled |
By: Darrell Todd Maurina
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Posted: Friday, January 8, 2010 5:45 am
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PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (Jan. 8, 2010) — Bad weather conditions closed all school districts in the Fort Leonard Wood area for another day on Friday, and also led to most on-post roads being considered either “difficult to hazardous” or “extremely hazardous.”
However, as of 3:30 a.m., post officials said military and civilian personnel should report for duty at their regularly scheduled times.
The Waynesville R-VI School District is usually one of the last to close but school officials had already decided by 4:30 p.m. Thursday not to hold classes on Friday; many other districts had already made the same decision.
Schools are closed in Laquey, Richland, Swedeborg, Crocker, Dixon and Plato.
While road crews have been clearing the travel lanes, temperatures are hovering around zero degrees with wind chills as low as 20 degrees below zero.
According to Fort Leonard Wood personnel, all on-post roads were considered to be in “red” condition, or “extremely hazardous,” as of 4:30 p.m. Thursday. Road conditions have improved overnight with some roads upgraded to “amber” or “difficult to hazardous.” So far, three crashes have happened on the fort.
Post officials said that as of 3:30 a.m. Friday, housing area secondary roads, cantonment training area roads, and secondary range roads are still in “red condition.” However, primary and secondary roads in the cantonment area, primary roads in housing areas, primary range roads, Fort Leonard Wood Route 1 south of the Forney Field airport, ranges, training areas, Forney Field, the East Gate, Polla Road West Gate, TMP troop transport, and TSB ammunition delivery have all been upgraded to “amber” condition.
In amber road conditions, post officials warn that “drivers must slow to 10 mph below the posted speed limit to maintain traction and a safe stopping distance.” Under “red conditions,” most intersections have “difficult or no stopping conditions” because “clearing operations have not kept priority number one roads easily passable.” Under those conditions, “driving above 10 to 15 mph causes vehicles to lose traction and safe stopping distance are significantly increased.”
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