In response to the massive winter storm that has swept much of the U.S. from the Plains to the East Coast, a state of emergency has been declared in Kentucky waiving hours of service regulations for truckers hauling heating fuels and other essential supplies.
Gov. Andy Beshear declared the state of emergency as the commonwealth deals with the snow, ice, wind and sub-freezing temperatures, which have made travel difficult and left at least 70,000 residents without power.
Beshear’s waiver of hours of service for truckers said the magnitude of the storm could cause shortages of heating fuels, which in turn could cause the disruption of vital services and products and thus affecting the public health, safety and welfare of its the commonwealth’s citizens. His waiver also allows truckers hauling essential supplies to bypass weigh stations.
The waiver covers truckers “providing direct assistance supporting emergency relief efforts including transporting essential fuels, food, water, non-alcoholic beverages, medical supplies, feed for livestock and poultry, (2) transporting livestock, poultry, and crops ready to be harvested, or (3) the restoration of utility and transportation services,” according to Beshear’s declaration.
The waiver is good for 14 days or until it is lifted.
“Remember, this is a significant snow and ice event, so the roadways are still dangerous,” Beshear said during a press briefing this morning. “You might be able to still see the pavement but that does not mean it is not still dangerous. A half inch of ice is very hard to treat especially when it coats everything.”
Nationwide, at least five people have died in storm-related highway accidents. Some 350,000 customers are without power.
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