Mayor Melvin “Kip” Holden is asking motorists to use extreme caution tonight when freezing temperatures are expected to create hazardous conditions on East Baton Rouge roadways.

Those who must venture out should be especially cautious on bridges and overpasses where icy conditions can be particularly hazardous, the Mayor said.

Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service was predicting that temperatures would plummet to 21 overnight with wind chills dipping into the low teens. The extreme cold is expected to remain in the Baton Rouge area through the weekend.

Area roadways, especially on bridges and overpasses, could be especially treacherous overnight, and transportation officials are warning that portions of the interstates and the New Mississippi River Bridge could also be subject to closures.

Mayor Holden is also asking everyone to check in on the elderly, disabled, family members or others who may need assistance during these usually frigid conditions.

“I would like to ask everyone to please remember that the Buddy System serves us well in emergency situations, so please check on your neighbors in these next few days of extreme cold,” the Mayor said.

“I would also ask that everyone be very cautious in using space heaters. Our Baton Rouge Fire Department has been responding to numerous calls because of accidents with heaters,” Holden added.

Curt Monte, spokesman for the Baton Rouge Fire Department, warned residents to be extremely cautious if power outages occur during the upcoming cold snap.

“Under no circumstances should people ever use generators indoors,” Monte said. “And they should remember candles are also a fire hazard.”

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) will activate the GOHSEP Crisis Action Team (CAT) Wednesday morning to monitor and respond to winter weather hazards such as possible icy conditions projected across the state this week. GOHSEP is in contact with those parishes where sleet, snow, and potential icing of Louisiana roadways is forecasted in parts of the state.

“While we are anticipating some potentially dangerous winter weather, we urge everyone to pay attention to their local news and weather forecasts and avoid driving in icy conditions. If you haven’t already done so, this is the time to have some extra supplies on hand in the event of a power outage due to icy conditions,” says GOHSEP Director Mark Cooper. “Please prepare your homes, bring your pets inside and check on the elderly and disabled. Also, take special precaution when using space heaters. Keep combustibles at least three feet away from the heater.”

GOHSEP is also coordinating efforts with other state agencies such as the Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH), Department of Social Services (DSS) and the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD).

Department of Agriculture and Forestry:

Issuing advisories for owners of livestock

Department of Health and Hospitals:

Assessing the number of hospital beds available to prepare for cold-related injuries or illness

Department of Social Services: Working with the American Red Cross to establish warming centers.

Warming centers are places people can go to get relief from the cold. They are not open 24hours. Snacks, hot drinks, cots and blankets are provided at the warming center location.

Reviewing which resources (cots, blankets, etc.) are available if needed by local parishes.

Department of Transportation and Development:

Loading trucks with sand De-icing agents will be applied to bridges in affected areas

Preparing barricades for possible road closures

Motor Assistance Patrol (MAP) will operate 24 hours a day starting Thursday until road conditions improve

Dial 511 for more information on road closures or go to www.dotd.la.gov and click on 511 for more information

Louisiana State Police:

Working with DOTD and monitoring bridges and overpasses for icing

Preparing to activate additional personnel as needed Dial *LSP (*577) to report any problems on the roads Go to www.lsp.org for road closures

State Fire Marshall:

Emergency Response Team is preparing to assist local fire departments and any medical facilities that may lose utilities

Issuing public advisories on fire/heat safety

The American Red Cross says each chapter is in communication with the parish Offices of Emergency Preparedness personnel and will continue to work closely with them to determine what resources are needed.

Any icing issues will mainly affect bridges and overpasses. For the latest information on local weather, residents should listen to their local weather forecast.

The GOHSEP will continue to participate in daily conference calls with the National Weather Service (NWS), state and local agencies as preparations for the possibly hazardous winter weather continues.

The entire state is expected to be impacted. The current weather forecasts call for rain to develop by late Wednesday and turn into freezing rain, sleet and snow by Thursday. Temperatures could dip into the teens.

The GOHSEP urges everyone to protect themselves and their homes from freezing temperatures. Winter weather and H1N1 public service announcements (PSAs) featuring professional golfer and Shreveport native David Toms recently started airing as well as other PSAs focusing on winter weather hazards. Those PSAs can be viewed on the GOHSEP websites www.gohsep.la.gov and www.getagameplan.org. That’s also where you can find information on how to keep you and your family safe.

...A FREEZE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR AREAS SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST OF
LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN FROM MIDNIGHT TO 8 AM CST TUESDAY MORNING... 

...A HARD FREEZE WARNING IS EFFECT FOR EXTREME SOUTHWEST
MISSISSIPPI...COASTAL MISSISSIPPI...RIVER PARISHES OF LOUISIANA
AND EAST CENTRAL LOUISIANA FROM MIDNIGHT TO 8 AM CST TUESDAY
MORNING... 

.MORE COLD AIR IS EXPECTED TO FILTER INTO THE REGION TODAY AND
THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT. AS A RESULT...FREEZING TEMPERATURES AND A
HARD FREEZE ARE EXPECTED ACROSS AREA TUESDAY MORNINGS. ADDITIONAL
FREEZE AND HARD FREEZE WATCHES AND WARNINGS MAY BE NEEDED FOR
WEDNESDAY MORNING AND THEN AGAIN LATER THIS WEEK AS ANOTHER ARCTIC
AIRMASS MOVES SOUTH TOWARDS THE REGION. 

...HARD FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 8 AM
CST TUESDAY... 

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NEW ORLEANS HAS ISSUED A HARD
FREEZE WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 8 AM
CST TUESDAY. THE HARD FREEZE WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.
AS AN ARCTIC AIRMASS WORKS INTO THE REGION TEMPERATURES COULD
POSSIBLY FALL INTO 20 TO 25 DEGREE RANGE JUST BEFORE SUNRISE
TUESDAY MORNING. A HARD FREEZE DURATION OF 4 TO 6 HOURS IS
ANTICIPATED ACROSS EXTREME SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI AND COASTAL
MISSISSIPPI. A HARD FREEZE DURATION AROUND 4 HOURS IS EXPECTED
ACROSS THE RIVER PARISHES AND EAST CENTRAL LOUISIANA. WEDNESDAY
MORNING COULD EVEN BE COLDER AS HIGH PRESSURE SITUATES RIGHT OVER
THE AREA PROVIDING THE BEST CONDITIONS FOR TEMPERATURES TO PLUMMET.

The following parishes are included in this watch:

• Pointe Coupee
• West Feliciana
• East Feliciana
• St. Helena
• Tangipahoa
• Washington
• St. Tammany
• Iberville
• West Baton Rouge
• East Baton Rouge
• Ascension
• Livingston