Highlands ready for worst, storm brings mild impact
Winter Storm Fern rolled across the Highlands plateau last weekend, prompting town officials to prepare for icy roads, potential power outages, and tree collapses. Although the storm proved milder than expected, the town’s swift response minimized its impact.
Winter Storm Preparation
Town Manager Josh Ward said preparations for Winter Storm Fern began as of Thursday morning, Jan. 22. Crews readied equipment, including snowplows and salt spreaders, and added chains to its vehicles.
“It’s like any storm,” said Ward. “We had to prepare equipment and have everything ready to go depending on when it starts.”
While street crews were the primary focus, additional staff were on standby if conditions worsened. Macon County provided weather updates, and the town coordinated with the fire department and police to ensure resident safety.
“For backup plans, it would be all hands on deck,” said Ward. “Obviously, safety is our number one priority for our crews, so if it gets too bad, they’ll have to pull off and wait till safer conditions.”
Ward also advised residents to stay off the roads on Saturday and Sunday to give public works and emergency workers room to provide assistance effectively.
Fern’s Aftermath
Winter Storm Fern proved to be much less severe than anticipated. From Friday, Jan. 23 through Sunday, Jan. 25, the Plateau received a mix of sleet, freezing rain and rain.
“The storm was a lot easier on us than it could have been,” said Ward. “I think we dodged a bullet with that.”
Highlands saw patches of ice on roads and scattered power outages. Macon County reported a total of 0.1 inches of ice accumulation. The first outage was reported Saturday morning, and electric crews responded immediately, restoring power swiftly without major challenges.
Street crews worked through Saturday night into Sunday, treating icy roads. Rising temperatures, combined with an additional spell of rain, aided their efforts. By Sunday afternoon, the town’s main roads were fully accessible.
“The crews did excellent as normal,” said Ward. “They’re prepared for this and they’ve worked many storms where we’ve had ice and snow. They know their job and they get it done.”
Two National Guard members were deployed to town for emergencies and housed at the Fire Department. Neither was called into action.
Ward said residents of Highlands heeded Chief Holland’s message to stay off the roads, allowing crews to effectively address any storm-related issues.
The National Weather Service is monitoring the possibility of another round of wintry weather, forecast to move into the region this weekend.
- Mitch Stone
reporter@highlandsnews.com