Stay home during storm if possible, Culver urges Iowans

Gov. Chet Culver urged Iowans Tuesday to avoid travel if possible, given blizzard-like conditions caused by a storm that threatened to dump up to 15 inches of snow in parts of the state.

State officials opened the emergency operations center at Camp Dodge near Johnston as a precaution as public safety officials worked to deal with traffic mishaps, slippery conditions and delays brought on by the first major snowstorm of the winter season.

“It's very serious and it's progressing fast. Conditions are not good and they're only going to get worse,” the governor told an impromptu news conference after addressing the Iowa Taxpayers Association meeting.

“We are really urging people to stay off the roads, to make safety their No. 1 priority,” said Culver, who canceled his public schedules for the afternoon and evening due to the treacherous travel conditions.

The National Weather Service in Des Moines issued a winter storm warning effective until 9 p.m. Tuesday and a blizzard warning through 6 p.m. Wednesday, noting that snow drifts of 8 to 15 feet were possible in eastern parts of the state.

“We're prepared to go into a full-blown emergency response effort if we need to. It's too early to know,” he said. “Some of that will depend on whether or not Iowans heed these warnings about staying off the roads.”

Culver said he hoped the travel alerts would head off the need for Iowa National Guard, state troopers, Department of Homeland Security to conduct rescue missions for stranded motorists as has been the case in past winter storms.

The governor praised school officials for dismissing classes early to get youngsters home and school vehicles off roads before conditions worsened.

Patricia Quinlisk, medical director for the state Department of Public Health, warned Iowans about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning posed for occupants of a vehicle that idles for a prolonged period.

Quinlisk said early symptoms of poisoning by carbon monoxide – an odorless and colorless gas produced during any combustion process – are similar to early signs of flu and include fatigue, chest pain, headache, nausea, dizziness, confusion and impaired vision and coordination.

Also Wednesday, Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey advised rural residents to have adequate resources on hand to be able to handle several days without power and closed roads.

He also urged farmers to closely monitor the health and safety of their livestock during the winter storm.

The National Weather Service in Des Moines issued a winter storm warning effective until 9 p.m. Tuesday and a blizzard warning through 6 p.m. Wednesday, noting that snow drifts of 8 to 15 feet were possible in eastern parts of the state.