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An Editorial Opinion of The Lowndes Signal

As you read this, it is likely that the ground is covered in snow. At the very least, our community members are, in all probability, watching the remnants of a winter storm melt in their yard.

Ahead of the winter storm expected to drop 2-5 inches of snow in some places, predictions were changing almost hourly and the likelihood of snow increased with every new report.

Until these situations arise, we forget how many people are responsible for sending out the information needed to keep citizens safe. 

The Lowndes County EMA, where Lowndes County Engineer David Butts is pulling double-duty as the area’s head of the highway department and temporary EMA director, does not have a social media presence or a platform for informing the public with updates during a severe weather event. 

Butts said Lowndes County Commission Chairman Charlie King, Jr. announced the closure of all county offices for Tuesday, Jan. 21 and Wednesday, Jan. 22. In an email Tuesday evening, Butts alerted our newsroom that all county roads were closed from 8 p.m. until 10 a.m. Wednesday.

The National Weather Service (NWS) held meetings with county Emergency Management Agency (EMA) directors twice daily beginning on Friday to ensure local agencies had what was needed to alert community members. Butler County EMA Director Rosie Till and Crenshaw County EMA Director Elliot Jones kept our newsroom, and the community informed of the latest developments via emails and social media posts twice daily throughout the event.

We are grateful to Till, Jones and the local, statewide and national agencies for providing what we needed to help keep community members informed. Utility providers, like Southeast Alabama Electric Cooperative, and law enforcement agencies including the Crenshaw and Butler County Sheriff’s Departments and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) did their part to advise residents and motorists how to be safe during the upcoming storm.

The NWS also published information on how to stay warm and protect from property damage during freezing temperatures while urging residents to remain safe and check on elderly neighbors. The Signal’s newsroom did our part to share updates as they became available in hopes that community members could be as prepared as possible for the bitter cold and snow expected.

We hope our citizens are enjoying a winter wonderland from the warm and dry vantage point of their living rooms. Worthy of all the gratitude we can convey are the agencies responsible for keeping their communities up to date with accurate, detailed alerts.