Rich Whipkey places blankets on a cot at the Salvation Army in Parkersburg to prepare for an increase in individuals in need of warmth from the impending snowstorm this weekend. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

PARKERSBURG — The Mid-Ohio Valley — and much of the country — braced Friday for a massive winter storm.

“As usual, we’ve got all our salt spreaders on trucks and plows,” Parkersburg Public Works Director Everett Shears said. “We’re just waiting on whatever happens.”

The National Weather Service placed a winter storm warning in effect from 7 a.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Monday, with up to 15 inches of snow predicted to fall on the area by Monday morning. After a forecast high temperature of 33 on Sunday, the “warmest” prediction next week is 21 degrees Tuesday and Wednesday.

Events around the area were being canceled or rescheduled.

The Salvation Army of Parkersburg’s regular shelter is full, but in recognition of the approaching snow and frigid temperatures, their warming station is open around the clock at this point, said Shirley Smith, the organization’s longtime bookkeeper.

After the evening meal is served, the kitchen is cleared out to allow extra people to spend the night, she said.

“We will set up cots and blankets and feed them,” Smith said.

In addition to the Salvation Army at 534 Fifth St., warming centers in Parkersburg include the Latrobe Street Mission at 1725 Latrobe St., House to Home at 413 Eighth St., and The Gathering at 1005 14th St.

Yellow Taxi is offering free rides to the centers from Parkersburg and Belpre, according to a Facebook post from the United Way. People can get connected to a ride by calling 304-422-4000.

Wood County Schools Superintendent Christie Willis said Friday the district cancelled a wrestling tournament scheduled in Williamstown over the weekend and that some transportation arrangements have been changed. She said parents were notified through the ROOMS app of those changes.

Belpre City Schools Superintendent Jeff Greenley said Friday evening the district hasn’t made any definitive decisions on school events. He advised Belpre residents to follow the district’s social media accounts and website over the weekend for any announcements.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey held a briefing Friday to outline the state’s preparations for the storm.

“While the forecasts may change, we want to make sure we are prepared to work together to keep our people safe,” he said in a news release.

State agencies, local emergency managers, public safety officials, utilities, FEMA, the National Weather Service, and the federal Department of Homeland Security have been in close communication all week, the release said.

Deputy Director of Emergency Management Matthew Blackwood offered guidance for West Virginians to prepare for extreme cold, hazardous travel and potential power disruptions.

“This is about our response as a government, but also about the need for neighbors to look out for neighbors and plan ahead,” he said in the release.

Advice included:

∫ Review emergency supplies including food, water, medications, flashlights, batteries, and blankets.

∫ Review backup plans for medical equipment that requires power.

∫ Check that smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly.

∫ Refill vehicle fuel and ensure approved alternative heating sources have adequate fuel and are used safely.

∫ Bring pets indoors and include them in emergency planning.

∫ Fully charge cell phones, medical devices, and backup power supplies.

∫ Continue checking trusted weather forecasts and official alerts.

∫ Adjust travel and work plans ahead of time, avoiding unnecessary travel once conditions worsen.

∫ Ensure you have multiple ways to receive emergency alerts (weather radios, mobile alerts, local media).

∫ Check on family members, neighbors and anyone who may need assistance, especially older adults and those with medical needs.

During and after the storm:

∫ Travel should be limited to essential trips only.

∫ Use emergency heat sources only if properly ventilated. Never operate grills, generators, or fuel-burning devices indoors or near open windows. Generators must be operated outside, at least 20 feet away from homes.

∫ Take frequent breaks when shoveling snow and avoid overexertion.

∫˜Never approach downed power lines, and report outages to utility providers.

The West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) said in a release on Thursday it is ready to clear roadways of ice and snow with approximately 1,000 snowplows available statewide.

In addition to the snowplows, the WVDOH said it operates snow blowers and road graders for snow removal and ice control in higher elevations.

The WVDOH also said road crews will pretreat roads where possible prior to the arrival of the storm to both get a jump on the coming storm and make it harder for snow to stick, and to make it easier to remove snow from the roads.

The WVDOH reported it began the season with 186,116.87 tons of salt and 145,949.31 gallons of salt brine and that supplies can be replenished as necessary.

The release said while the mission of the WVDOH is to make roads passable for cautious travel, such heavy snowfall could make travel hazardous. They urge drivers to stay off the roads this weekend unless travel is absolutely necessary, to hunker down and wait for SRIC crews to do their jobs.

The release said all roads maintained by the WVDOH fit into one of four priorities and are addressed as storm conditions dictate. It said once Priority 1 routes are accessible, they move to priority 2 and 3 routes. It said as snow returns, crews will return to the Priority 1 routes.

∫ Priority 1 routes include Interstate, Expressway, National Highway System, and all other United States and West Virginia routes. Some Priority 1 routes also include high-traffic county routes.

∫ Priority 2 routes are all other school bus routes that are not considered Priority 1.

∫ Priority 3 routes are the remaining routes, not including park and forest routes.

∫ Priority 4 routes are park and forest routes.

The release said as the men and women of the WVDOH are out on the highways clearing snow and ice, they urge drivers to maintain a safe distance of at least 200 feet behind a working snowplow, and to never try passing snowplows working the roads side by side.

In a Facebook post, the City of Parkersburg Public Works Division said it has prepared to the best of its ability for the pending inclement weather event.

It said in the post seven trucks equipped with plows and spreaders are prepped and ready for deployment across seven pre-designated zones, with priority routes identified for hills and traffic pressure.

It said predictions indicate this event will be problematic for road conditions, given the expected low temperatures coupled with precipitation, which could delay their ability to deploy to side streets and low traffic routes.

They ask for cooperation from residents in exercising common sense and caution about their travel over the next few days and ask any resident who can to utilize off-street parking when possible to allow for more efficient and effective clearing of the streets.

They also ask residents to keep in contact with any vulnerable neighbors and loved ones for the duration of the event until the weather passes and normalcy returns.

Schools and orginizations are also preparing for the inclement weather as they determine whether to postpone and cancel any events planned for this weekend.

Staff reporters Douglass Huxley and Amber Phipps contributed to this story.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com