Walker County officials are closely monitoring weather conditions as a Winter Storm Watch goes into effect early Saturday.
According to Walker County Communications Director Joe Legge, the Winter Storm Watch will be in effect from 1:00 a.m. Saturday, January 24, through 10:00 a.m. Monday, January 26. County officials, along with representatives from local municipalities and the Walker County School System, are actively preparing for the possibility of winter weather impacts.
The county’s winter weather fleet is on standby and ready to respond if conditions worsen. The fleet includes nine vehicles, among them four dump trucks equipped to plow roads and apply a sand and salt mixture. To improve response times, materials have been staged at four fire stations across the county, allowing crews to reload without returning to the central sand facility. Road Department crews have also worked throughout the week to remove potential tree hazards that could become dangerous during icy conditions.
While weather forecasts have fluctuated throughout the week, county officials say plans are in place to open warming centers for residents if conditions warrant.
Several schedule changes have already been announced. The Walker County Landfill and the Walker County Animal Shelter will be closed on Saturday. Officials say a decision regarding any additional schedule changes will be made on Sunday.