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Storm
Supervisors
Supervisors
at the Street Department are constantly
aware of the weather. Even during the spring
and summer months, weather factors play
an important role in street maintenance.
The Street Department is equipped Weather radar and constant weather updates. Supervisors monitor the Weather channel and the National Weather Service forecasts. They are also equipped with pagers that receive weather information.
Training
Street Department crews receive training
every Fall. Training includes Policy and
Procedures. A high priority is put on drivers
training. The operators at the Street Department
must pass a driving test which consists
of an obstacle course. They must successfully
drive a truck mounted with a snow plow and
spreader through this course.
Preparations
During winter months, Crews mount their
Salt spreaders on their equipment every
evening at the end of their shift. Tire
chains are also installed daily. They are
removed at the start of the next days work
unless a storm is approaching.
Storm
Shifts
The crews at the Street Department are broken
down into 2 - 12 hour shifts. There is also
a sidewalk crew which works 12 hours. The
shifts work from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM and
from 8:00 PM to 8:00 AM. Supervisor shifts
start an hour earlier. This allows for planning.
Sidewalk crews begin their shift at 3:00
AM.
Street Department Crews will stay on 12 hour shifts until all streets have been cleared.
Storm
Control
All Storm Operations are controlled from
the Storm Room at the Street Department.
A Supervisor is assigned to the Storm desk
where all crews must report. The Storm desk
remains occupied until the crews have completed
the cleanup.
Snow
Routes
The
Street Department’s first priority
is to Emergency Routes. Emergency Routes
are the same for De-icing as they are for
Plowing Operations.
As crews finish Emergency Routes, they are assigned a Secondary Route. Secondary Routes used for de-icing are different from those used for Plowing.
As crews finish Secondary Routes, they are assigned a Secondary Follow-up Route.
If Snow has stopped falling and accumulation of snow is less than less than 2 inches, District de-icing routes will be assigned as crews finish Secondary Follow-up Routes.
During the De-icing Operations, Emergency Routes are monitored by Supervisors. If they feel the streets are in need of more de-icing, they will shut down the other routes and re-apply salt to the Emergency Routes.
Once all routes have been run successfully, the operation is shut down. A 2 man crew is left to run any Citizen Complaints that might have come in during the storm. HOWEVER, If snow continues and more is expected, crews will start plowing operations.
Plowing
Operations
If snow is expected to accumulate, Phase
II (Emergency Parking Ordinance) will be
placed into operation. A starting time will
be set up to start plowing operations.
When plowing operations begin, a larger crew is used and trucks are paired off. On some Emergency Routes, 3 plows are used to clear the snow. Emergency Routes are plowed first. Crews will stay on Emergency Routes until all snow has stopped falling and the snow has been pushed to the curbs.
Routes are de-iced as they are plowed. This saves time and makes the snow easier to plow, by preventing the snow from packing to the pavement.
As Emergency Routes are completed, Secondary Routes are begun. Phase II is lifted from Emergency roues as soon as they are checked by Supervisors and found to be satisfactory.
The Secondary Plow Route system is designed to get everyone within 2 to 3 blocks of a plowed street. As Secondary Routes are completed, District Routes are begun. These streets are de-iced as they are plowed also.
As Secondary Routes are completed, District Routes are Begun. District Routes include Dead-end Routes and Cul-De-Sac Routes. These streets are de-iced as they are plowed also.
After district routes are completed the operation is shut down.