Winter storm Leon blankets Dale County

A rare winter storm hit the Southern United States particularly hard Jan. 28, leaving a blanket of ice, snow and sub-freezing temperatures in Daleville and Dale County during its course. 

Once winter storm Leon started producing freezing rain, bitter temperatures and sleet conditions, local and school officials heeded the warning signs and began taking the necessary precautions Tuesday afternoon.

Ultimately, the unfamiliar circumstances of winter storm Leon left schools, government offices and roads throughout the area to shut down for up to two days.

Due to the dangerous driving conditions, Fort Rucker Primary and Elementary schools dismissed their students at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 28, and Daleville and Dale County schools did the same at 1 p.m.

All of the systems remained closed for the next two days while roads, bridges and overpasses were covered in ice.

After assessing the weather conditions, Fort Rucker officials made the decision to release all employees and close the post at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 28. All flight operations, to include academics, were canceled. Both the post and operations remained halted until noon Thursday, Jan. 30.

As the wintry weather conditions continued Jan. 28, Dale County employees closed their offices at 3 p.m., and they remained closed through Thursday. Daleville city offices closed on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

With schools and government offices closed throughout the area, residents were urged to stay at home and off the roadways, as ice was likely to form and not melt for a few days.

Closely monitoring the slick and icy roads, Dale County officials closed the roadways at 6 p.m. Jan. 28, and the roads remained closed until noon the following day.

The Dale County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release the northern part of the county was extremely dangerous. 

Workers in Daleville and Dale County spent much of the two days sanding the bridges and overpasses for the dangerously slick driving conditions.

According to Daleville Department of Public Safety Capt. William Mansfield, all bridges on U.S. Highway 84, Highway 134 East and Old Highway 134, were iced over by 8:15 p.m. Jan. 28.

Once the freezing temperatures grew harsh, five full-time officers, one reserve officer, three volunteer firefighters and a dispatcher came in to assist with the call volume and help clear the potentially hazardous roads.

During the two-day period, Daleville Department of Public Safety officials responded to six single-vehicle accidents of people trying to drive on impassable bridges and four reports of tree limbs causing a hazard in the roads.

Most of the accidents occurred on Choctawhatchee River Bridge on U.S. Highway 84 where vehicles lost control because of the ice on the bridge.

According to Mansfield, no injuries were reported in any of the accidents and police were able to remove the tree limbs that had fallen in the roadways.

The Alabama State Troopers responded to four wrecks in Dale County on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

Alabama State Trooper and public information officer Kevin Cook said none had any injuries.

"We've been fortunate that many of the wrecks haven't had injuries," Cook said.

As winter storm Leon left its effects on the Wiregrass, emergency personnel had an even bigger problem Tuesday night as trees and limbs knocked down power lines causing power outages during freezing temperatures.

According to Alabama Power spokesperson Linda Brannon, approximately 1,300 Daleville customers experienced power outages as the winter weather passed through.

“The outages varied in length from just a few minutes to as long as four hours,” Brannon said. “Customers across the Southern Company, parent company for Alabama Power, came close to setting a record for electric demand, reaching a peak of 43,782 megawatts Thursday morning. The record of 45,887 megawatts was set earlier (last) month on Jan. 7.”

Alabama Power was quick to repair any cable lines that came down, and power outages were restored in all cases.

The city of Daleville also opened a warming shelter at the Daleville Cultural and Convention Center during the storm for anyone needing a warm place to stay. Residents were asked to stop by the Daleville Department of Public Safety building first to access the shelter.

According to Mansfield, several residents called and inquired about the shelter, but no one used the facilities.

Following winter storm Leon’s historic pass through the Wiregrass, Daleville Mayor Claudia Wigglesworth said she was extremely pleased with how well residents heeded the warning signs and thanked emergency personnel for all of their commitment and support.

“Thank you to the residents for heeding the advice to stay off the roadways,” she said. “I’m very appreciative of the commitment of our first responders, city employees, volunteers in the fire and rescue departments, and the Alabama Power personnel (for) keeping our city safe.”