The weather outside is frightful, and there’s little about it that’s delightful. That time of year has sailed off. DOTD officials are on the highways in south Louisiana, and the driving experience is very difficult. Spokesman Rodney Mallett says on some roadways, you can’t see the curb or edge of the street or the highway…
As such, try to stay off the roads today if you possibly can. If you absolutely have to be on the roads today, please adjust the way you normally drive so that you can get from point A to point B in one piece. State Police Trooper Marc Gremillion (GREM-ee-ahn) says not only do you need to greatly reduce your speed, you’ll also need to adjust the way you come to a stop.
And if you start skidding, stay calm, steer into the skid and drive off after you’ve regained your traction.
Once again, in conditions like these, it’s best that you stay home if you possibly can. GOHSEP chief of staff Scott Adams says it’s best to hunker down and stay at home today and make sure your house can handle these cold temperatures…
Adams reminds you that if you absolutely must use a space heater, use extreme caution, as they are common causes for house fires in frigid temperatures like what we’re experiencing today. Make sure there’s nothing flammable within three to five feet of the unit, and it’s plugged directly into the wall. No extension cords or power strips – they can’t handle the electrical load needed to operate them.
If these brutal temperatures are too much for you to handle, LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says take solace in the fact that they will return to normal by this weekend.