Maryville, Tennessee – Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong is asking citizens to use caution when traveling in the higher elevations within Blount County. The Sheriff’s Office is receiving reports of snow and icing on the roadways in our higher elevations, including Happy Valley and Top of the World. Secondary roadways in the lower elevations are currently clear and other than being wet, they are safe for travel.

We’d also like to remind you of the four P’s for preparing for the upcoming arctic blast: people, pets, pipes, and plants.

People: Make sure your home is set to an appropriate temperature. If you use a space heater, make sure you keep it away from anything that may be flammable, including blankets, curtains, etc.

Pets: Pets are vulnerable to cold temperatures too, and if not taken care of properly they can get frostbite and suffer from hypothermia. Consider bringing indoor dogs and cats inside when temperatures drop to freezing. If that’s not possible, make sure you have a warm shelter for them along with plenty of food and fresh water.

Pipes: Make sure you cover all of your exposed pipe with a cover. You can also cover your pipes with towels and use duct tape or another adhesive strip as long as they are wrapped tightly. Let your faucets drip throughout the day and night to keep them from freezing. You should also open your cabinets to let warm air circulate.

Plants: It’s a good idea to bring in all of your outdoor plants. If you can’t bring in the plant, cover it with a blanket to make sure they do not die.

It looks like temperatures will remain below normal for most of the week, but temperatures begin to moderate Friday and into the following week. Stay safe, everyone!