DODGE CITY, KAN. — Several meatpacking facilities in southwest Kansas were forced to suspend shifts after a Jan. 9 snowstorm closed roads and resulted in power outages at some plants.

Cargill’s beef processing plant in Dodge City, Kan., was idled by the recent snow, cold temperatures and loss of power. 

“Our primary focus is to ensure the safety of our employees and support them during this extreme weather event,” said Chuck Miller, a Cargill spokesperson. “We are also committed to minimizing any disruption to our customers. We will reopen our Dodge City plant once power returns and we feel it is safe to do so for our employees.”

The company anticipates that it could resume operations as soon Jan. 10.

Miller noted that the majority of its 2,850 workers in Dodge City made it home on Jan. 8 before the storm. However, a group of 50 employees remained at the plant due to road closures. 

“Fortunately, half of our plant has had power and heat for a majority of the winter storm, and everyone has had access to food, water and assistance,” Miller said. “We realize that some employees got stuck on the road outside the plant. We are working with local authorities and have hired tow truck drivers to assist them and other motorists. And local leadership has continued to check on employees and motorists and offered them shelter at our facility.”

Officials with Tyson Foods Inc. announced the company canceled both shifts on Jan. 9 at its beef processing plant in Holcomb, Kan., after the blizzard.

“Due to the blizzard, which caused dangerous travel conditions, team members at our Holcomb, Kansas, facility were given the option of sheltering in place at the plant Monday night, where they were provided a hot meal and hot beverages,” Tyson said in a statement to local media. “Team members were able to leave the facility by Tuesday morning (Jan.9), and both A shift and B shift[s] for Tuesday have been canceled.”

Officials with National Beef Packing Co., which operates beef processing plants in Dodge City and Liberal, Kan., did not respond to inquiries about the status of those plants in the wake of the winter storm.