Cairo, Illinois/Charleston, Missouri - The Illinois Department of Transportation would like to alert motorists traveling in the Cairo area that the US 60/62 bridge over the Mississippi River will be closed.

The closure is scheduled to begin on Friday, March 21, 2014 at 7:00 a.m. and will extend through Friday, March 28th, 2014 at 5:30 p.m.

The bridge will be open to all traffic from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. each night.

Crews will be performing required annual safety inspection of the structure.

Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor

The National Weather Service has postponed the Missouri Statewide Tornado Drill scheduled from tomorrow, March 4, until Thursday, March 6 at 1:30 p.m. The weather service says the postponement is due to the winter weather and other factors. The change to Thursday, which was the backup date, is for the entire state of Missouri.

The 40^th annual statewide drill is part of Missouri 2014 Severe Weather Awareness Week, which runs from today through Friday, March 7.

On March 4, Missouri outdoor warning sirens will sound, indicating that Missourians should seek shelter during the statewide tornado drill. The safest shelter location is the basement or an interior room in the lowest level of a building. The drill is complete once everyone is accounted for in the designated shelters.

Missouri's Stormaware.mo.gov website includes detailed videos showing how to react to flash flooding and tornadoes and shelter in specific types of buildings – houses with and without basements, mobile homes, schools – and important information about tornado sirens and weather alert radios. The site also includes links to free severe weather texting services that can alert people across Missouri to upcoming severe weather.

The National Weather Service provides safety tips and educational information about each day of Severe Weather Awareness Week on the St. Louis Forecast Office site: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lsx/?n=severeweek (Monday, Preparedness Day; Tuesday, Tornado Safety Day; Wednesday, Flash Flood Safety Day; Thursday, Severe Thunderstorm Day; Friday, NOAA Weather Radio Day).

Remember:

· Tornado watchmeans watch the sky. A tornado may form during a thunderstorm.

· Tornado warningmeans seek shelter immediately.

· An interior room without windows on the lowest floor is the safest shelter location.

· Do not seek shelter in a cafeteria, gymnasium or other large open room because the roof might collapse.

· Immediately leave a mobile home to seek shelter in a nearby building.

· Overpasses are not safe. An overpass' under-the-girder-type construction can cause a dangerous wind tunnel effect.

· If you are driving, you should stop and take shelter in a nearby building.

· If you are driving in a rural area, drive away from the tornado to the closest building. If you cannot get away, seek shelter in a roadside ditch. Protect yourself from flying debris by covering your head with your arms, a coat or a blanket. Be prepared to move quickly in case the ditch fills with water

· Never drive into water. It can take less than six inches of fast moving water to make a slow moving car float. Once floating, a vehicle can overturn and sink. 

Helpful websites:

· NWS – Springfield, Flood Safety & Awareness site: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/sgf/?n=floodawarenessweek

· Missouri Department of Transportation Travelers Map: http://www.modot.mo.gov/

· Missouri Ready In 3 program: http://www.dhss.mo.gov/Ready_in_3/

· FEMA's Animals in Emergencies for Pet Owners DVD: http://www.fema.gov/individual/animals.shtm.

· Missouri StormAware: http://stormaware.mo.gov

Missouri - Today, icy conditions in Missouri's neighboring states, Arkansas and Tennessee, led to interstate closures in the Missouri Department of Transportation's Southeast District.

The recent storm hit portions of western Tennessee and northeastern Arkansas, leaving several inches of ice that is challenging to clear in the currently frigid temperatures. With temperatures falling overnight, there is a potential for refreeze, as well as significant delays due to slow moving traffic.

Specifically, Missouri travelers are encouraged to avoid taking southbound Interstate 55 toward Arkansas or southbound Interstate 155 toward Tennessee.

In combination with the winter weather, Arkansas also has a single lane work zone on southbound I-55 near Osceola. If an incident occurs, it will require the complete closure of southbound I-55 in Arkansas, which could lead to back-ups and closures in Missouri.

 In Tennessee, the icy conditions have left tractor trailers unable to pull up the grade on southbound I-155 at Lennox Bluff (mile marker 6). During an earlier incident today, wreckers were called to assist vehicles up the incline, which led to an eight-mile back-up on EB I-155 in Tennessee and the closure of I-155 in Missouri near Caruthersville.

Traffic on southbound I-55 and southbound I-155 is currently moving slowly with significant delays in Southeast Missouri. Motorists should see alternate routes. Specifically, tractor trailer operators should avoid southbound I-55 into Arkansas or I-155 into Tennessee.

As an alternate route to Arkansas, drivers may take Route 60 to Springfield, Mo. and Route 65 to Little Rock, Ark. As an alternate route to Tennessee, drivers may take Interstate 57 at Sikeston, Mo. to Interstate 24 toward Nashville, Tenn. Motorists are encouraged to avoid traveling through northeast Arkansas near Memphis.

Motorists are urged to use caution while traveling near these areas and to watch for slowed or stopped vehicles. Conditions are expected to improve in both Arkansas and Tennessee on Wednesday.

For more information about roadway conditions and incidents in Missouri, please visit the Traveler Information Map at http://traveler.modot.org/map or call MoDOT's Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888 ASK MODOT (275-6636).

Dexter, Missouri - Are you watching The Voice tonight?  Tyler Montgomery the son of John and Patti Shell and the late Terry Montgomery of Dexter was chosen to be on The Voice on NBC.  There were 70,000 singers who auditioned across the country and 117 were chosen to be on the televised blind auditions.  

Tyler grew up in Dexter and graduated from DHS before going away to college.  While in school he was active in the high school choir, the Show Choir, Band and Jazz Band.  He attended the First Baptist Church and was the praise leader in Refuge which is the Youth Group.  

Today Tyler is living in Nashville where he is a producer, recording artist, and a song writer.  He has already issued two CD's, but he has written 40 more songs that he is ready to record.  

We hope to see Tyler tonight!  Good luck from Dexter, Missouri!  We are so proud of you!!!

Jefferson City, Missouri -  Ahead of a major winter storm system that is anticipated to bring snow, sleet, freezing rain, and high winds to much of Missouri, Gov. Jay Nixon today announced he has activated the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) and delayed his scheduled departure to Canada for a trade mission. The Governor and state emergency officials continue to track the weather system and are in close contact with the National Weather Service and local emergency management agencies to monitor conditions.

“State emergency management officials are working to ensure we are fully prepared for what is forecast to be a severe winter storm,” Gov. Nixon said. “Snow and freezing rain, combined with high winds, will bring hazardous conditions and potential power outages to parts of the state.  As we brace for another round of severe winter weather, I urge Missourians to use caution, check on friends and neighbors, and avoid unnecessary travel so that MoDOT and local road crews can do their important work to keep Missourians safe.”

Gov. Nixon was scheduled to depart tomorrow (Mar. 2) for a trade mission to Canada, Missouri’s largest export market. In order to continue leading the state’s preparations for and response to the storm, the Governor has delayed his departure.  Another advisory will be sent out once the Governor’s revised schedule is confirmed.

The Governor cautions Missourians to report downed power lines immediately to their electric utility; to stay away from them; and to warn others to do so as well.

Gov. Nixon encourages Missourians to:

Listen to radio, television, or NOAA Weather Radio for weather reports and emergency information, or visit the state's Web site, MO.gov, for emergency information.

If you must drive, check MO.gov for road conditions before departing. Dial the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s emergency line -- *55 from a cellular phone - if you encounter an accident while driving on a highway.

Check on the elderly and neighbors who may be in need of additional assistance. For information about emergency services and resources, visit MO.gov.

Missourians who need disaster information, shelter information, and referrals are urged to call 211. The 211 service is now available throughout Missouri.