Jefferson County - East-West Gateway Coordinating Council

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HAZARD ANALYSIS NARRATIVE
Hazard: Severe Winter Weather
Jefferson County – Section 2
Description of Hazard (Type of hazard, pathways/areas likely affected, type of damage,
etc.) Severe winter weather is defined as sleet, freezing rain, and heavy snow. This can be
accompanied by strong winds creating blizzard conditions, severe drifting and dangerous
wind chill. Ice storms cause significant hazards as well. Communications and power can be
disrupted for days, resulting in residents using alternate fuel sources that are likely to start
fires. Strong winds with intense storms and cold fronts knock down trees, utility poles,
power lines. Extreme cold often accompanies a winter storm in its wake. Winter weather
can result in injuries, death, and property damage. Prolonged exposure to cold can cause
frostbite, hypothermia can become life-threatening. The average pathway may vary in any
direction, but the average winter storm moves from west to east. Winter storms are most
likely to occur in November through February but may ensue from October through April.
Any person or structure at any location could be damaged by a winter storm.
Historical Statistics (Frequency, strength, # of lives lost, # of injuries, economic losses,
etc.) Economic losses are difficult to measure. Local governments, home and business
owners can be faced with spending millions of dollars for snow removal, restoration of
services, debris removal and landfill hauling. NOAA weather indicates that the Missouri
counties north of the Missouri River receive an average snowfall of 18-22 inches, and
counties south of the river receive an average of 8-12 inches. Historical statistics for the
EWGCC include the winter storm in January 1994 that resulted in temperatures dropping to
–20 F degrees below zero, with wind chills to –50 degrees F below zero. In January 1977,
the EWGCC region received the maximum snowfall for the area at 23.9 inches of snow with
temperatures hovering around –14 degrees F below zero. Also in January 1982, the
EWGCC region received a 24 maximum snowfall of 13.9 inches with temperatures around –
15 degrees F below zero. In February 1914, the EWGCC received the maximum snowfall for
the area for this month at 23.5 inches of snow. In December 1973, the EWGCC region
received its maximum snowfall for the area for this month at 26.3 inches. The coldest
December on record was 1983 with temperature average of 20.5 degrees F. Multiple
homes and businesses had water pipes break, people were admitted to hospitals for
hypothermia/frostbite and schools were closed.
Statement of Future Probable Severity (Catastrophic/Critical/Limited/Negligible). Ice
storms could be limited to catastrophic
Statement of Probable Risk (Likeliness of future occurrence-(Highly
Likely/Likely/Possible/Unlikely) Winter/ice storms are likely to occur in the future.
Statement of Next Disaster’s Likely Adverse Impact on the Community
(Catastrophic/Critical/Limited/Negligible)
Without Mitigation Measures: Life Property Emotional Financial