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Since the 7:30 a.m. update, only two drivers have gotten stuck in the icy conditions. Wreckers were called out to pick them up. 

Chambers County EMA Deputy Director Kathy Hornsby said that the vehicles that are currently stuck have not been out all night. Those drivers likely just came out this morning only to realize roads are still too hazardous. 

As of now, all roads throughout Chambers County are still considered impassable.

Hornsby noted that emergency personnel are only responding to emergencies by directive from their leadership at this time. However, EMS will take people to the hospital or assess them. 

As for drivers who are stuck but not injured, the EMA is advising them to call their own wreckers. 

As of this morning’s shift at 8am, Hornsby said, there have been no accidents. 

Yesterday in the fresh snowfall was a different story. In the first couple of hours, the county had more than 20 vehicles that spun out or got stuck in the ice. Some were accidents while others were just stuck on the side of the road. 

This is because of the prolonged subfreezing temperatures which Hornsby said caused snow that had been driven over to immediately refreeze and become a sheet of ice. Then, as fresh snow continued to fall, the ice was covered and became hidden to unsuspecting drivers. 

“When it’s just all pure snow, people don’t think of ice. They think snow, which is typical and should be under normal circumstances,” Hornsby said. “But because of the extremely low temperatures, it changed that. So what was on the surface under the white, flaky stuff had already become ice.”

According to Hornsby, most of the accidents were those who slid or spun out into a ditch, though a few were sliding into other cars. 

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) and the Chambers County Highway Department prepped the main county roads and bridges with pre-treatments to help deter icy conditions late into Monday night. 

Wreckers and first responders assisted until late Tuesday night. As temperatures continued to drop, they began sliding off roads or getting stuck. There were still a few calls even after midnight, according to Hornsby, but no severe injuries or multi-car accidents. 

Later in the night, officers started picking up people who left their cars and started walking and took them to the closest safe and warm locations. 

As of now, there have been no reports of drivers being stuck on the road all night. 

Anyone in need of EMS should call 911 or the non-emergency line for assistance in getting to a warm and safe location.