Record deep freeze hits

     As the region braces for  all-time record cold, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation advancing measures that would make a wide variety of state resources available to communities harmed by the winter weather.
    Wednesday’s high was to be -12 degrees with a predicted wind chill of -55 degrees. Schools, businesses and organizations closed their doors and canceled scheduled events, some into Thursday.
    “This storm poses a serious threat to the well-being of people around the state, and we will use every tool at our disposal to keep our residents safe,” Pritzker said.
    The potential for record-breaking cold prompted warnings to stay indoors and, if venturing out, to dress in layers, cover exposed skin and carry blankets and bottles of water in your vehicle.
    The villages of Coal City and Diamond sent out information on ways to protect homes from frozen water lines and the Grundy County Emergency Management Agency posted several safety tips on social media  including keeping ice and snow from building up on natural gas meters, keep automobiles fueled up.
    The extreme cold comes on the heels of a series of winter storms that  dumped around five inches of snow on the area since Jan. 25.
    In one week of winter weather, Coal City maintenance workers laid down over 87 tons of road salt and 200 gallons of beet juice,  liquid road pre-treater.
    According to City Administrator Matt Fritz, 36 tons of salt were used on village streets during a storm that brought freezing rain to the area on Tuesday, Jan. 22.
    The winter storms have also added to the work hours of the town’s maintenance crew. Between Friday, Jan. 25 and Monday, Jan. 28 crews put in 149.5 hours, 88.5 hours were overtime, according to Fritz.
    On Tuesday morning, public works personnel  got an early start pushing back snow drifts and salting streets around the town’s school buildings. When that task was complete they teamed with contracted workers from Coal City Redi-Mix to haul snow piles out of the downtown area, as well as the various neighborhood cul-de-sacs.
    Crews will be out as needed over the next 24 to 48 hours, but the administrator said he’s hoping for an uneventful time for municipal workers.
    Mindful that water main breaks could come with the extreme cold temperatures, Fritz said plans are in place to ensure worker safety. Residents should know that in the event of a break, crews will only respond if it’s deemed an emergency. If the situation is one that can wait until temperatures warm later in the week it will not be immediately repaired.
    Fritz said he is somewhat hopeful, “the snow will create a blanket of insulation,” to keep the freeze from reaching down to the pipes.
    Temperatures are expected to climb above freezing by the weekend, 35 degrees on Saturday;  44 degrees Sunday.
    With such a quick change in temperature and rain in the forecast, Fritz said residents should be mindful of storm drains. He asks residents to keep drains clear of snow to allow for proper drainage as snow begins to melt.
    Additionally, due to the unprecedented weather, the village will suspend water shut-offs for non-payment  for one week.
    Among the closures announced  for Wednesday, all Coal City Schools along with school scheduled events and practices; Coal City Public Library; Joliet Junior College; Grundy County Administrative office, courthouse and sheriff’s office; Grundy Transit System; Help for Hope; Grundy County Housing Authority, and several area businesses. Residents are advised to call ahead before venturing out to scheduled appointments.