City workers are ready to meet a potentially historic storm with more than 150 hand shovels, loaders fitted with snow blowers and hefty plow trucks.
A massive winter storm this weekend is threatening heavy snow and subzero temperatures across New York, including Rochester and Monroe County. Some areas of Western New York could see up to a foot of snow before Monday, according to AccuWeather.
“It is the largest amount of snow that they’re forecasting this year,” said Karen St. Aubin, who leads the city’s snow removal operation. “But we’ve been at this pretty much all winter. This has been a winter of snow and cold. We are prepared.”
City workers prioritize the clearing of main roads, and then move into residential streets once more than three inches of snow has accumulated, St. Aubin said. She urged residents to stay home this weekend if they can and asked motorists to make sure their cars are parked on the correct side of the street, so not to hamper plowing operations.
You can track snow removal and road conditions in Rochester using several online tools, such as PlowTrax and 511ny.org.
“We’ll be on as soon as Mother Nature arrives,” St. Aubin said from the city’s salt barn Jan. 23. “Let’s go.”
— Kayla Canne covers community safety for the Democrat and Chronicle with a focus on police accountability, government surveillance and how people are impacted by violence. Follow her on Instagram @bykaylacanne. Get in touch at kcanne@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: How do city workers prepare for major winter storm?
Reporting by Kayla Canne, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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