One Year Later: Winter Storm 2014
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If you were living in Montgomery this time last year, you can probably remember what you were doing — whether it was at home or on the road. That’s when the city shut down because of its icy conditions. But Montgomery city leaders say they’ve made changes to how they would deal with the cold weather today. Winter storm 2014 — you may remember sights like these: icy interstates closed down, roads being sanded and non-stop media coverage following every step of the storm. But since then, the Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency has made changes. Because of the storm, it now has an updated GIS mapping system to get agencies like fire and police where they need to be more efficiently. “Where we can map things that we are doing. Last year we were using a grease pencil on a map. Now we can project those things on the wall and use technology that we have for us,” Said EMA Director, Calvin Brown. Since the winter storm, Public works has received more sand. Although the city has not ordered additional tools for extra cold weather. Another change? EMA’s emergency notifications system, known as Alert Montgomery. “Last year it was new to us and we didn’t have as many people in the system now as we continue to grow the system you know you’re made neighbor maybe get the call as opposed to him not getting it last year,” Said Brown. At the time of storm, Alert Montgomery had about 1,000 subscribers. Now, it has about 8,000. EMA officials believe if the storm happened today, it would make a huge difference in how people would have reacted.
