Ready for winter
PennDOT, region prepare for first storm of the season
NORRISTOWN » Ready or not, here it comes. The region is preparing for the first major snowfall of the year on Wednesday.
With 130,000 tons of salt on standby, PennDOT crews will strive to stay on top of the falling snow, but, as always, they would appreciate help from motorists in giving plow drivers as much space as possible.
“My first thought about getting the first big storm of the year is all the new drivers out there that might have gotten their licenses in the last couple of years who haven’t dealt with winter before and the challenges it brings,” noted PennDOT spokesman Brad Rudolph. “We’re concerned about that. We want people obviously to be well equipped if they do have to travel. Watch your following distance and your speed. Speed is the big one. People drive way too fast for certain conditions. We want people to start out slow and give us plenty of space.
Using caution on all roads is key, Rudolph said.
“As far as materials, we’re fully stocked,” he added. “We had a very light year last year.”
In advance of the storm’s arrival, crews will spread the salt-brine mixture to slow the rate at which the snow sticks to the road when it starts to fall, Rudolph explained.
“We have 170,000 gallons of brine to treat roads, which will help us today (Tuesday) when we pre-treat highways and interstate lookalikes with a brine solution,” he said. “Pre-treating roads with salt brine helps with some of the initial bonding to the roadway and it will also help with the initial snowfall tomorrow. We have more than 430 trucks throughout the region, and that includes about 185 state trucks and roughly 250 contractor trucks for the five-county region.”
PennDOT spreads an average of 3,000 gallons of brine per storm in the Philadelphia region.
At an earlier press conference, John Krafczyk, PennDOT Assistant District 6 Executive for Maintenance, noted that a $29.8 million budget had been set aside for winter operations in District 6, which covers 11,000 “snow lane miles” in the five-county region of Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, Chester and Philadelphia.
According to PennDOT, snow-lanes are calculated as the miles of road multiplied by the number of lanes, which means a onemile section of a four-lane roadway would equal four snow-lane miles.
PennDOT advises drivers to check winter conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com or downloading the 511PA application for iPhone and Android devices. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.
“Preparations before you travel is key,” Krafczyk pointed out. “Driver responsibility is important on the road too. If you encounter snow or ice-covered roadways, please slow down. Increase your following distance and avoid distractions. Our preliminary data show that last winter there were 151 crashes and three deaths on winter weather roadway where aggressive driving was a factor. With the right preparations, I hope that we can all get home safely every day this winter.”
Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter. com/511PAPhilly and like the department on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ groups/phillypenndot and Instagram at www.instagram.com/pennsylvaniadot.
On Tuesday, Montgomery County officials were offering advice ahead of the storm’s arrival.
“I strongly encourage all Montgomery County residents to stay home during the winter storm and avoid travel unless absolutely necessary,” commissioners’ Chairwoman Valerie A. Arkoosh said in a statement. “Our Roads and Bridges workers are ready to treat County roads and help keep them passable for emergency responders, healthcare staff, and other critical workers. Our crews are prepared to work around the clock throughout the duration of the storm.”
The release added that Montgomery County drivers should prepare for the incoming storm by using caution while driving and avoiding travel during severe winter weather conditions.
Roadways will not be free of snow while precipitation is falling. With freezing temperatures, roads that look wet may actually be icy, and extra caution is needed when approaching bridges and highway ramps where ice can form without warning. Motorists should leave plenty of space — six car lengths — when following a truck that is plowing or spreading winter materials.
Additiona lly, motorists who are traveling during times of snow or sleet should remember the following safety advice:
• Leave early to ensure you have extra time to make the trip; Slow down gradually and drive at a speed that suits the conditions; Turn on your headlights and stay in your lane; Increase your following distance; Reduce in-car distractions since your full attention is required; Use defroster and windshield wipers, keep windows and mirrors free of snow and ice;
• Do not pass a vehicle moving slowly; Give ample room for plow truck drivers to treat the roadways and never pass between two trucks operating in a plow line; Always buckle up and never drink and drive.
• Residents are asked to observe the following precautions during winter storm conditions related to power outages or other storm-related incidents:
The heavy, wet snow expected with this storm may cause widespread power outages, the impact of which will be enhanced by a significant drop in temperatures later this week. If you lose power, do not call 9-1
1. The County’s Emergency Communications Center will already be extremely busy with storm-related incidents.
Call your local utility provider to report the outage:
· PECO: 1-800-841-4141 · PPL: 1-800-342-5775 · Met-Ed: 1-888-544-4877 Always assume that all power lines are live, even if you lose power in your home or business. Never go near or touch a fallen power line.
Never use a gas stove to heat your home. If you use candles for light, exercise extreme caution and never place them near combustible materials such as curtains or furniture. Battery-powered candles or flashlights are much safer, especially if you have children or pets.
If your power is out, keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed, which should keep food cold for about four hours. Be sure to dispose of any perishables (meat, poultry, fish, eggs, leftovers, etc.) that have been above 40° F for two hours or more.
If you have a portable generator, never use it inside your home or even in a partially enclosed area. Generators, as well as gas and charcoal grills, produce Carbon Monoxide, which is an odorless, colorless gas that can kill you. Keep the generator far away from doors, windows, and air intakes.
Never overload the generator or attempt to power your house by plugging it into a wall outlet. Both practices can cause electric shock or fire.
Montgomery County residents are encouraged to sign up for ReadyMontco text, call and email alerts to get the latest storm updates.
ReadyMontco is the county’s official source for notifications about emergencies, severe weather, crime alerts and disasters in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
ReadyMontco is administered by the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety and is free of charge (text messaging and voice rates may apply). Once subscribed, residents receive time-sensitive messages wherever specified, such as their home, mobile or business phones, email address, and text messages.