Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Prepares to Respond to Upcoming Weekend Winter Storm

(Walhalla, SC)------------------------------------Just like last weekend when the first winter storm of 2026 affected Oconee County, the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is preparing to respond to a second winter storm in as many weekends.

“At the present time, the National Weather Service has placed Oconee County under a Winter Strom Watch,” says Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw.  “The Winter Storm Watch is scheduled to begin Friday afternoon and last through 7am Sunday morning.  Unlike last weekend’s storm, the forecast for this weekend’s storm indicates that it will be a snow event, with an accumulation of snow expected.  The snow accumulation will make traveling conditions hazardous.  Also, temperatures are forecast to be very cold, especially at night, which is a life-threatening situation if you are caught outside.  Due to that fact, the National Weather Service has also placed Oconee County under an Extreme Cold Watch from Saturday evening through Sunday morning.”

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office would like to provide the following information as you begin to prepare for the upcoming winter storm:

· If you must travel during the storm, only do so in emergency situations as this will not only protect you and your family, but also will allow public safety, power and road crews to respond to any calls for service.

· If you do have to travel, make sure that you have an emergency kit, which should contain items such as non-perishable food, water, a flashlight, a cell phone charger, and extra clothes and blankets. 

· With any power outages that may occur, traffic signals in those areas will be affected.  Therefore, treat those intersections as four way stops. 

· If you know someone who has a health related problem or someone who is part of our senior population, make sure to check on them during the storm.  Also, make sure that pets have adequate shelter, food and water during the storm.  If possible, you may want to consider bringing pets inside during the storm.

· If you can’t reach someone who has a health related problem, or someone who is part of our senior population, or a family member or friend during the storm, Deputies from the Sheriff’s Office are available to conduct a welfare check.  Please call our non-emergency for welfare check requests at 864-638-4111.

· The E-911 Communications Center will be staffed and ready to take calls for service and Deputies and other public safety officers stand ready to respond accordingly.  For emergencies, call 911.  For non-emergency situations, call 864-638-4111. 

· The E-911 Communications Center at the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office dispatches for the Sheriff’s Office, County Fire and Rescue and for the Salem, Walhalla, Westminster and West Union Police Departments.