SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO-AM) City of Sioux Falls Snowfighting Chief Gaylnn Huber says his troops are ready and set to go battle the first storm of the season.
"Over 90 percent of my people have been doing this for years and years and years. It's like riding a bicycle for them," the city's long time streets manager tells KELO Radio. Huber says his troops strategically stage equipment throughout the city to jump into the fight as soon as the first flakes fall.
About 200 city workers and contractors will fight the snow, expected to begin arriving very early Friday morning, but Huber is still looking to hire about ten more part-time snow plow drivers for the season.
The professionals are ready for the snow, but are you?
“The first snowfall is always a good time to remind drivers to slow down and allow extra time to reach their destinations,” says Sioux Falls Police Chief Matt Burns, Police Chief. “Each year when the snow begins to accumulate for the first time, we see an increase in accidents, and most often the cause is overdriving the road conditions.”
The South Dakota Department of Transportation will handle the snow on the interstates. Motorists are reminded that snowplows travel at 25-30 mph or less when plowing or placing chemicals. Drivers need to stay alert for the slow moving snowplows and stay a safe distance behind the plow.
When conditions allow, snowplows will pull over periodically to let traffic pass. Please have patience and never pass a plow when visibility is poor. Remember that the snowplow is clearing the roadway in front of you so the best place to be is a safe distance behind it.