KHAS Weather
Street departments gear up for heavy snow
Before the snow even starting accumulating, the Grand Island Street Department started preparing for the storm. They started getting their plows ready this morning.
News 5's Lauren Conley spoke with the Street Department Superintendent Wednesday. They're just waiting to see what happens with the storm. All of their equipment is prepped and ready. Their people are on call at a moment's notice. The Grand Island Street Department is hard at work. Chains on tires... check. Plows on trucks... check. Fresh oil...check check check. And a brand new snow heaver made it just in time for the storm. It's like a giant snowblower. "It can take in a massive amount of snow. So, it will shoot out about 1500 tons an hour," said Grand Island Street Department Superintendent Shannon Callahan. This could be a much needed addition with an expected 10 to 16 inches of snowfall. Once two inches of snow accumulates, crews will start moving. Emergency snow routes will be the first focus. "They're saying that there will be a lot of snow very quickly. So, by the time we get out there, there might be more accumulation," said Callahan. Once emergency routes are under control, they'll start residential streets. Callahan expects crews to clear emergency snow routes at least twice before moving elsewhere. "It will take us a little while to get around to clear those totally until the snow stops," Callahan said. Parking is prohibited along emergency snow routes. And, the street department recommends avoiding parking on any street. "If the snow stops suddenly, and we get stuff cleared up, we start residentials at midnight and you're parked there, well that's just more work for you to do when you wake up in the morning," said Callahan. She also recommends staying off the roads if at all possible. The less traffic on the roads means the quicker crews can clear the streets. And don't forget about those parking bans on emergency snow routes marked by red, white and blue signs. Grand Island's parking ban on those emergency snow routes is already in effect. It lasts through noon Friday. Hastings and Kearney's snow emergencies begin in an hour. Hastings' lasts through noon Saturday. |
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