SC counties brace ahead of winter storm bringing dangerous winter mix

YORK COUNTY, SC (WBTV) – With the fast-approaching winter storm expected to dump more than a foot of snow in the mountains, our South Carolina counties are bracing for a dangerous mix of sleet and rain tracking freezing temperatures.

They’re gearing up for a major on-ice event. They say it could be a “devastating” storm as this ice could bring down trees and power lines and make roads slippery and dangerous.

Lancaster County Emergency Manager Darren Player said Saturday night the winter weather response plan would begin. That’s when our WBTV meteorologist says this winter storm will start making an appearance. However, they are preparing in advance with people already out and ready to respond across the county. Now EMS will also be available for help, but if they need help, like moving a tree branch or helping with a rescue, they will have to call and ask for help.

It’s a little different in Chester County. EMS and Fire are now gearing up and checking gear to make sure all is well, but EMS and Fire will be out in the county together in case people need help with tree limbs or buildups of ice.

WBTV is awaiting information from York and Chesterfield counties.

Icy conditions make the roads dangerous. That’s the warning from South Carolina state officials – beware of snowy roads and black ice, but there are agencies working to keep the roads clear and safe, even in slippery circumstances.

The message here is to stay off the roads. If you don’t have a very good reason to be here, heads of state say they prefer people to stay at home. However, they also work to protect you just in case.

“It was pretty scary,” said one person preparing for snow.

It’s winter season and the weather we might see in our South Carolina counties could be a doozy.

“It really worries me to have accidents,” said another.

A winter mix of sleet, snow and freezing rain is expected to batter Palmetto State, creating the potential for downed trees and power lines and some slippery, icy roads.

“We stay at home,” said a woman. “Normally we don’t venture out on the ice when it’s like this.

That’s the advice Master Trooper Gary Miller gives people. Don’t drive unless you have a very good reason to do so.

“We are a bit lucky because it comes on a weekend and Monday is a public holiday, so schools and many businesses will be closed,” says Miller.

If you need help, the soldiers are all on deck until Monday, although much slower than you might be used to.

“We also cannot drive at our normal speeds. We don’t want to be part of the problem, we’re here to be part of the solution. I can’t help you if I’m stuck in the ditch too,” Miller says.

To better prevent any road problems, the SCDOT sent trucks to pre-treat the roads. People might even spot them on I-77.

“SCDOT’s priority is safety. That’s why we pre-treat roads early. It’s definitely something we want to anticipate,” says SCDOT spokesperson Brittany Harriot.

Harriot says the agency has people waiting up the coast and although it is recommended not to drive, the SCDOT is preparing the roads for those who must.

“They need to feel safe that SCDOT is helping them on every possible route,” she says.

SCDOT will endeavor to clear these roads of snow and ice as quickly as possible, but if anyone finds themselves in a situation where the road is not clear, call the SCDOT call center and they will try to get a team out as soon as possible. they can. If anyone needs help from the soldiers, the number is *HP.

Copyright 2022 WBTV. All rights reserved.