Oswego Schools Closed Wednesday Due To Cold

OSWEGO, IL — In anticipation of potentially life-threatening cold, School District 308 has cancelled classes for Wednesday, Jan. 30, and Thursday, Jan. 31. All after-school activities are also cancelled Tuesday for elementary and junior high schools, while high school after-school activities will continue Tuesday, but are cancelled for Wednesday and Thursday.

In addition, Oswego Village Hall and the Oswego Public Works Facility will be closed on Wednesday, Jan. 30, according to a news release. Several other events and services are affected, and residents are urged to take several precautions.

Here's a full breakdown of the area closings, in addition to some reminders and safety tips:

School District 308
School and after-school actives are cancelled for Wednesday, Jan. 30, and Thursday, Jan. 31.

Village Hall and Public Works Closed
Oswego Village Hall and the Oswego Public Works facility will be closed Wednesday, Jan. 30. Public Works personnel will be on stand-by for emergencies such as water main breaks, and other essential personnel will be working remotely, officials said. Both facilities are expected to re-open as normal on Thursday.

Oswego Police Department: OPEN
The Oswego Police Headquarters, 3355 Woolley Road, will remain staffed and open to serve as a 24-hour warming center for the public. Police will continue to conduct patrol.

Dangerous Driving Conditions Expected
Drivers are asked to stay home and off the roads during this dangerous weather. Wind chills are expected to hit -50 degrees and can cause frostbite within five minutes. Expected wind gusts can result in blowing snow that will make travel hazardous. Road salt does not work in extremely low temperatures, and roadways may be frozen.

Remember, officials say, when you keep yourself out of harm's way, you help to keep first responders safe too.

Warming Centers
Call ahead before venturing outside, as several warming centers have already announced they will be closed on Wednesday. The Oswego Police Headquarters, 3355 Woolley Road, will be open 24 hours a day. Find a complete list of warming centers here.

Garbage Collection Postponed
Officials say garbage collection will be delayed by one day, and officials expect a late start to collection on Thursday morning. Collection on Thursday may also be postponed, depending on just how cold it is Thursday morning.

Hudson Crossing Project Kick-Off Postponed
The project kick-off for The Reserve at Hudson Crossing originally scheduled for Wednesday afternoon has been postponed. A notice will be posted and sent to the media when a new date and time are confirmed.

Small Business Fair Postponed
The Scale Up Small Business Resource Fair originally scheduled for Thursday morning at the Oswego Fire Protection District has been postponed. A notice will be posted and sent to the media when a new date and time are confirmed. Details are available at oswegoil.org/economic-development.

Keep Your Home Safe
Officials warn that house fires and carbon monoxide poisoning are more common during cold weather, so avoid using ovens or gas-powered appliances for heating, and ensure that your furnace's exhaust is free from snow and ice. In addition, clean the area around your gas meter to keep the gas pressure regulator in working order.

Also, be wary of freezing pipes in your home and consider opening the doors to any vanities or cabinets that have pipes on an outside wall, or keeping a trickle of water running to prevent pipes from freezing or busting.

Frozen pipes can burst, flooding your home. If your pipes do freeze, do not use a torch or other open flame to thaw them. Use a hair blow dryer to thaw your pipes. If that does not work, contact a plumber. If your pipes burst, shut off the water to your home at the main shut-off valve immediately and contact a plumber.

Extreme Cold Can Be Deadly
Forecasted wind chills below -50 degrees have been predicted for the next several days. Wind chills this cold can cause frostbite in less than five minutes. Check weather forecasts, and, if you must go outside, wear layers and be aware of the signs of hypothermia. Keep children, pets and other animals indoors and warm.

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