Snow Statement from Mayor David McDavid
Posted by zachary on January 28, 2025
Mayor McDavid Applauds City Departments for Keeping Our City Safe During the Winter Snow Event
"The City of Zachary handled the historic snowstorm exceptionally well, with approximately six inches of snow blanketing the area. I credit our team of dedicated city department heads who, in anticipation of the rare winter snowfall, met beforehand to create a solid plan," said Mayor David McDavid.
Our Emergency Preparedness Director, Ty Stephens, worked alongside the incredible teams from Public Works, the Fire Department, Police Department, Parks Department, Purchasing Department, and Utilities Maintenance to keep our city running smoothly. Despite the rarity of snowfall in our area, proactive measures were taken to ensure public safety. For instance, early on, the City secured two pallets of salt by traveling to Houston, Texas, which allowed us to pre-treat and brine the roads ahead of the storm.
After the snow subsided on Tuesday, the Public Works Department, led by Wayne Day, worked tirelessly to de-ice bridges and main roads using a mixture of salt and sand. Their efforts extended beyond the norm—they made special trips to de-ice Lane Regional Medical Center to ensure emergency access and even cleared the parking lot at Rouses, helping residents grocery shop safely once the streets were deemed safe for travel and the curfew was lifted.
The Utilities Maintenance Department also stepped up by implementing proactive measures, such as fueling city generators and placing barricades, to enhance safety throughout the storm. Thanks to their hard work and foresight, our city was able to reopen quickly and without major issues.
The only significant challenge we encountered was a brief gas outage in the Clairmont Subdivision, but our crews resolved the issue promptly. Throughout the storm, the City’s Public Information Officer, the Zachary Police Public Information Officer, and the Fire Department kept residents well-informed with regular updates via Facebook and Text My Gov, ensuring everyone stayed informed. Meanwhile, the Utilities Maintenance Department, led by Jeff Johnson and Lionel Lawson, diligently monitored gas and water pressures city-wide during the extreme low temperatures, which dropped to 7 degrees.
"I am incredibly proud of the dedication and teamwork displayed by our city departments. Their commitment and preparation made all the difference in keeping our city safe and operational during this unprecedented winter event," said Mayor McDavid.