BY MICHELLE KEY | PUBLISHER
LEE COUNTY — Winter Storm Enzo passed through Lee County during the early afternoon hours of Jan. 21, leaving behind 2 to 3 inches of snow. All county roads quickly became impassable as determined by the Lee County Emergency Management Agency (LCEMA). Bridges and overpasses quickly became slick with ice and snow and by mid-afternoon the snow started to stick to the roadways. Reports of stranded motorists started being received as the majority of the main routes through Lee County were blocked due to stalled commercial vehicles. There were numerous wrecks along I-85 between exits 50 and 70. During the pre-dawn hours of Jan. 22, heavy-duty wrecker services worked to clear semi-trucks that had become stuck along I-85 between exits 58 and 64.
Lee County is in State Division D. Members of the emergency response team from Division D were activated and in the Lee County EMA’s emergency operations center (EOC) working out of the training room upstairs while local reps worked downstairs. The Division D representation is comprised of Alabama EMA Division D Coordinator, a representative from Alabama Department of Public Health, Alabama Department of Transportation, the Alabama National Guard, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) and Alabama Forestry. This is so they can forward stage to assist any county in Division D.
“State Division D assisted us with state resources as needed,” LCEMA Director Rita Smith said. “When Lee County EMA began answering calls and resource requests, Forestry offered to assist with the stranded motorist requests. LCEMA assisted stranded motorists and provided blankets, water, baby formula … while Alabama Forestry assisted stranded motorists as did District 3 Commissioner Jeff Drury, utilizing his personal vehicle.”
LCEMA, the Alabama Forestry Commission, Coroner Daniel Sexton, Drury, towing companies and other good Samaritans from the community worked through the night on Tuesday. Nearly three dozen stranded motorists were picked up and delivered to warming stations in Opelika and Auburn. Many had been stuck on the roadways for six hours or more by the time they were rescued.
“A lot of motorists that were stranded had heat, but were running out of gas, so we were trying to move fast but safe at the time,” said Matt McCollough, Work Unit Manager for the Alabama Forestry Commission. “There was at least one person that did not have heat in their vehicle, and had walked to a gas station to be picked up by us. I do believe lives were saved by having warming centers to take these motorists to.”
LCEMA transported essential EAMC employees to work their shifts at the hospital who did not feel safe driving due to the hazardous road conditions.
Throughout the state of emergency, Lee County Commission Chairman Jere Colley offered his full support to LCEMA staff working in the EOC.
“I am so proud of the excellent relationships with our public safety partners, the Lee County Highway Department and for my team of excellent emergency managers who saved many lives during this event with their ‘no quit’ [attitude] and dedication to the residents and first responders of Lee County,” Smith said.
While Wednesday was sunny and the temperatures rose above freezing, the melting snow froze again as soon as night fell, and temperatures dropped back into the high teens and low 20s. As a result, the impassable roadway directive was not lifted until 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23. Even then, motorists were urged to drive with caution as some area roads still had patches of ice in shaded areas.
According to a press release from the ALEA, troopers in Troop D, which includes Autauga, Bullock, Chambers, Chilton, Coosa, Elmore, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Montgomery, Russell and Tallapoosa counties, investigated a total of 120 traffic crashes where weather conditions were a factor. Additionally, ALEA Troopers responded to 218 calls for assistance relating to traffic accidents and stranded motorists.
The Opelika Police Department communications center experienced a significant increase in call volume taking 3,416 calls from 10 a.m. on Jan. 21 to 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 23. Officers were dispatched to 85 motor vehicle crashes, 192 motorists and citizens assist calls and 81 calls related to hazardous conditions.
The Opelika Fire Department was dispatched to 53 calls, including a structure fire and a brush fire. Thirty-two rescue calls were made, four of which were for falls.
Stats from Auburn Public Safety and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office were not available as of press time.
While ALEA reported that one winter storm related crash resulted in one fatality, there were no reported deaths or serious injuries related to the winter weather in Opelika or Lee County.
All schools in Auburn, Lee County and Opelika were closed Tuesday through Friday as a result of Enzo.
The economic impact of the storm is undetermined at this time.
