During winter conditions, officials advise cars to avoid the roadways

Roanoke, Virginia – Officials are asking everyone to be prepared for anything as a winter storm is predicted to reach southwest Virginia in the coming days.

“People need to take this seriously,” stated Jason Bond, a spokesman for VDOT. “Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.”

To enable work vehicles, snowplows, and emergency personnel to perform their duties, avoid all traffic during the storm if at all feasible.

These recommendations are recommended for people who must drive.

• Allow plenty of time to reach your destination.

• Watch out for obstacles like black ice, downed power lines, and fallen trees, especially on back roads.

• Don’t pass emergency or work vehicles.

• Plan ahead with proper fuel and emergency items.

Roanoke Emergency Management Battalion Chief Trevor Shannon stated, “Make sure your vehicles are fueled and ready to go so you’re not at risk of running out of fuel on the interstates or main roads in the event of an incident and you get stuck out on the roadways in the extreme cold.”

Be especially cautious on back roads that may remain hazardous for a longer period of time because primary highways have priority when it comes to preparation and plowing.
However, primary roadways may still present challenges, particularly over the duration of the storm.

“There is some concern about the end of the holiday season, so we anticipate it to be a fairly heavily traveled weekend,” Shannon said.

The storm’s aftereffects may be noticed on the roads for days after it goes through. Bond stated, “I believe that the extremely cold temperatures we’re going to experience before and after the storm are one of the things that makes this particular storm a concern.”

Remember that emergency responders have a limited number of personnel and resources while making travel plans. If you don’t need to go, think about staying at home.

“There’s concern there as well because it might take us a while to get to you if you do need help,” Shannon added.

Road conditions around the state will be updated via the VDOT 511 app and the 511 website.