Winter Storm Gianna
see updates below…
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for our area. Snow precipitation is expected to begin during the overnight hours Friday and continue through Saturday evening/Sunday morning. With the cold temperatures saturating the atmosphere, the snow we are expected to receive will be extremely powdery, which is unusual for our area. There are concerns for ice to develop under the snow on roadways and walkways. Strong winds (30+ mph) are expected Saturday, which can potentially reduce visibility as the powdery snow is blown about. We are expected to receive between 2”-5” of snow.
Probability of snowfall >2”
Summary of Greatest Impacts
Out of an abundance of caution, the decision has been made to activate the Winter Weather Plan. The Hospital Command Center will open on Friday, January 30 at 5pm; however, staff can go ahead and request an accommodation by emailing the following information to lmcpublicsafety@lexhealth.org.
Name
Contact Number
Which day/nights you are requesting the accommodation
For staff that prefer to book their own hotel room, the following hotel has agreed to a reduced rate for available rooms:
TownePlace Suites – West Columbia (across from LMC)
2915 Sunset Boulevard
(803) 935-9050
$119/night
Use “LMC Emergency Group” when booking your room
Travel - Plan accordingly while traveling on the roadways, leaving ample time to navigate safely through the weather conditions and possible road hazards. You should consider:
Coming in early for your evening shift to avoid traveling during deteriorating conditions.
Sleeping at the hospital or at a local hotel so you’ll avoid the likely deteriorated roadway conditions on Saturday and Sunday morning.
Utilizing the designated sleeping areas throughout the weekend for your scheduled shifts.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
As weather conditions deteriorate, Public Safety will deploy barricades at areas that historically have caused difficulties for vehicles entering or exiting the main campus:
Top decks of all parking garages
A/B Lot entrance from Hwy. 378
B Lot entrance from West Hospital Dr.
PG 1 entrance from West Hospital Dr.
PG 2 entrance from Hulon Ln.
Your Public Safety and Grounds teams have established a plan to address any deteriorating conditions for the driveways and walkways on campus. Please use caution when walking around the campus!
Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to our patients and your coworkers. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Josh Angle at O: 803-936-7682 or C: 803-227-9473.
And as always, SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.
January 30 - 8:00 a.m. Update
The National Weather Service - Columbia (NWS CAE) has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Midlands region. Snow is anticipated to begin to fall after in the early morning hours Saturday and will continue throughout the day into Sunday morning. The NWS CAE predicts that the Central to Northern Midlands will receive approximately 5” to 8” of snow, whereas the Southern Midlands will receive 2” to 5”.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has begun treatment operations on all primary and secondary roadways. While the brine solution will help keep roads clearer, we encourage all staff to remain vigilant when traveling to and from work. Please allow extra time for your commute, as conditions may continue to deteriorate.
January 31 - 9:00 a.m. Update
The weather forecast remains the same. Forecasts anticipate snow throughout today, with accumulations in the Midlands expected to be 4” to 7”.
Snow has begun falling and is accumulating around the main campus. According to local traffic cameras, road conditions currently appear good. However, please continue to use caution when traveling to and from the main campus, as conditions are expected to worsen throughout the day.
Rooms are still available for anyone who wishes to stay on-site. To reserve sleeping accommodations, call (803) 791-2805 or email LMCPublicSafety@lexhealth.com.
February 1 - 6:00 a.m. Update
Today’s weather will be much improved compared to yesterday. Our area will see some much‑needed sunshine; however, temperatures will only rise slightly above freezing.
The main campus received a couple of inches of snow throughout the day on Saturday. Public Safety and Grounds Services are actively treating roadways and walkways around campus. Even though many areas appear treated, we still encourage everyone to use caution when entering or exiting campus.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation is treating several primary and secondary roadways, but some areas remain difficult to travel. Please use caution while driving to or from the main campus.
February 1 - 3:00 p.m. Update
We want to provide you with the latest update regarding Winter Storm Gianna.
On our campuses throughout the Lexington Health network, we are seeing improved ground conditions. Public Safety and Grounds Services have been diligent in assessing the sidewalks and parking areas throughout the campuses. As temperatures remain near freezing, we ask staff to remain vigilant while walking outside and report any areas of concern they may see to Public Safety at 803-791-2373.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation is treating several primary and secondary roadways, and the driving conditions have improved drastically; however, there are some areas that may still have ice and/or water on the roadways that could provide difficulties for travel. This evening, temperatures will drop into the teens, causing any remaining moisture on roadways to freeze. Please use caution while driving, allowing extra time for your commute.
The Hospital Command Center (803-791-2805) will remain staffed to support sleeping accommodations throughout the evening and we will reassess again in the morning as conditions continue to improve.
For those employees that have children enrolled at the Child Development Center, they will maintain normal operating hours on Monday.
Your safety remains our top priority, and we want to ensure everyone has the information needed to make safe and informed decisions.
February 2 - 10:00 a.m. Update
The Winter Weather Plan has been deactivated.