Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Stands Ready to Respond during Upcoming Winter Storm

(Walhalla, SC)------------------------------------The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is standing ready to respond as the first winter storm of the season is forecast to descend upon Golden Corner starting Saturday. 

“The National Weather Service has placed Oconee County under a Winter Strom Watch from Saturday morning through Monday afternoon,” says Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw.  “As of right now based upon the forecast, there is a chance of significant ice accumulation on trees and powerlines, which could cause power outages, as well as hazardous driving conditions with ice on the road, and potentially trees and power lines down blocking the roadways.  Once the winter weather begins, I would only recommend travel in emergency situations, as this will not only protect you and your family but will also allow public safety, power crews and road crews to respond to any calls for service.”

With any power outages that occur, traffic signals at intersections will be out, so prepare to treat those intersections as four-way stops, according to Sheriff Crenshaw.  After the storm passes, temperatures are forecast to fall into the 20’s on Sunday night and into the teens on Monday and Tuesday night, so roadways will continue to be hazardous as any precipitation that thaws during the day will refreeze during the night.   

“Our E-911 Communications center will be staffed and ready to take calls for service during the storm,” continues Sheriff Crenshaw.  “Our Deputies stand ready to respond to calls for service and will respond accordingly.  Therefore, if you have an emergency, call 911.  For non-emergency situations, you can 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 four of the five municipal police department’s in Oconee County.