Winter Storm Update: Hardin County Government

Winter Storm Update w/ Brian Walker of Hardin County Government

[00:01] – Kevin Jaggers
94.3 The Wolf. Kevin Jaggers here. I’m joined by Brian Walker with Hardin County Government. Brian, how’s it going?

[00:09] – Brian Walker
Good, sir. Thank you very much.

[00:11] – Kevin Jaggers
I know you’ve been busy. We saw several updates on your Facebook page yesterday and wanted to check in and see how things are going today.

[00:20] – Brian Walker
We actually have some good news. Our EMS crews worked far fewer runs than we anticipated. We expected to be over 50 runs in a day, and that didn’t happen. We also didn’t have many serious incidents. A big reason for that is people followed our advice and stayed home, which significantly reduced injuries and the need for emergency services.

[00:51] – Kevin Jaggers
That’s great news. One concern you raised yesterday involved misinformation on social media—specifically confusion between Hardin County, Kentucky, and Hardin County, Ohio.

[01:07] – Brian Walker
Yes, and oddly enough, there’s also a Hardin County, Texas, whose neighboring county is Jefferson, so we see confusion there too. Some states, including Illinois and Ohio, use numbered road-condition systems. When conditions reach certain levels, only emergency travel is allowed, and drivers can be arrested.

Kentucky does not use that system, and Hardin County never has. Some counties here do use numbering systems, but we don’t. We simply advise whether roads are okay or whether people should avoid travel. Those numbered systems are subjective and can vary widely depending on who’s judging conditions.

[02:12] – Kevin Jaggers
Absolutely.

[02:13] – Brian Walker
One person may look at a road and decide it’s too slick to drive, while a neighbor may feel perfectly comfortable. That’s why we don’t assign numbers.

Unfortunately, a post from another state was shared thousands of times here, leading people to believe they could be arrested for driving. That was never true. I personally checked with every mayor in the county and the sheriff, and all confirmed there is no numbering system and no arrests related to road conditions.

[03:21] – Kevin Jaggers
That reassurance is important, especially for people who have to be out. Looking ahead, we’re dealing with extreme cold over the next few days. What challenges does that create?

[03:35] – Brian Walker
The main issue now is getting roads scraped again. We don’t experience plow-level snow events often, so many people understandably don’t know how the process works. Plows can’t scrape all the way down to bare pavement—you’d destroy the road. They remove layers, but it takes time.

Hardin County prioritizes roads in tiers. Primary roads are addressed first, followed by secondary roads and then smaller subdivisions and rural areas. All roads will be addressed, but not at the same time.

Another concern people raise is salt. When temperatures drop near zero, salt becomes ineffective. In some cases, it can actually make conditions worse by melting just enough to create glare ice.

[05:08] – Brian Walker
Our road crews are highly trained and experienced. Under perfect conditions, it still takes 14 hours to cover the 568 miles of county roads. We’ve also dealt with equipment issues, trucks sliding into ditches, and periods where ice was falling so heavily that plowing would’ve been pointless. Sometimes crews have to pause and wait for conditions to improve before continuing.

There’s also confusion about which roads are county-maintained versus state or city roads. We can only speak for county roads, but we continue to share updates as work progresses.

[06:15] – Kevin Jaggers
And that’s an important reminder—this isn’t an overnight fix. It will take several days.

[06:33] – Brian Walker
That’s exactly right.

[06:35] – Kevin Jaggers
Brian, thank you to you, the road department, and everyone at Hardin County Government for the work you’re doing.

[06:40] – Brian Walker
One last thing I want to stress is staying warm. Vehicles don’t operate the same in extreme cold. If it’s safe to do so, start your vehicle a couple of times a day and let it run for 10 to 15 minutes to keep the battery charged.

From my automotive background, batteries fail most often during extreme heat or extreme cold. This kind of weather can drain a battery quickly.

If you’re unsure about driving, find a safe place like an empty parking lot to practice. And please check on your neighbors—especially those who may be elderly or without heat.

Also, check outdoor HVAC units. Snow and ice buildup can damage them. Switch your thermostat to emergency heat if needed. It may cost a bit more, but it can prevent serious damage and keep you safe.

[08:49] – Kevin Jaggers
Great advice. Brian Walker with Hardin County Government—thank you again for everything you’re doing.

[08:56] – Brian Walker
I appreciate it. I’m not doing the hard work—I’m just sharing information. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to get the word out.

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Winter Storm Update