Hundreds without power in Humboldt and Surrounding Counties

Many people in Humboldt and surrounding counties are without power today due to the storm. According to the Department of Transportation, many roads have been deemed impassable. Plows have been pulled in the area, and a tow ban has been put into place. Multiple vehicles have been stranded, and clogged roads are making it difficult for emergency services to get to those stranded. Authorities are asking that people stay home today to allow for emergency crews to work safely.

Humboldt County Emergency Management Director Kyle Bissell said, "Stay off the roads. The snow plows are not out unless it's an emergency situation. 911 vehicles will get to you as soon as they possibly can, but there may be a delay based on the ability to get to you. We're just advising people to stay home today and through the evening. Let everything calm down as far as the winds go, and then we can assess things in the morning. So stay safe. Stay home. If you have to get out to check with your neighbors, please do so, but do so carefully. And if you have to get out on the roads, check with local resources to make sure that travel is safe. But at this point in time, it's not safe in any area around Humboldt County."

For those without power, Bissell recommended that families keep refrigerators and freezers closed as food can last up to 12 hours if the temperature inside the fridge remains below 45 degrees.
To stay warm, Bissell said, "I would shut down any unused rooms that you can and put as many blankets under doorways if there is air moving through the bottom of doorways. Stay in as small an area as you can. Do not use your stove as a source of heat that could also cause carbon monoxide, if it's a gas powered stove. If you have a fireplace, use that, but definitely bundle up. Stay safe and stay in a smaller area to maintain as much heat as you can."