Oklahoma City Officials Preparing For Upcoming Winter Weather

While heavy snow is expected to fall over the next few days, Oklahoma City crews have already hit the ground running. They will be working to clear snow routes and respond to any accidents. 

“Fighting this storm will be a lot different than what we saw this last week,” Oklahoma Department of Transportation spokesperson Lisa Shearer-Salim said.

Street crews are planning to enlist 25 trucks with snowplows in order to keep roads clear. The crews will typically drive approximately 200 miles during a 12-hour shift. 

The city also said it has 11,000 tons of salt on hand.

“We have more than enough salt and sand,” Shearer-Salim said.

If people are out traveling, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol arranged a response team that will be placed across the state for any necessary high-risk rescues.

“The primary crashes aren’t the ones that are the most deadly,” OHP Trooper Eric Foster said. “It’s always the secondary ones behind it, and so we try to clear the roadways as quickly as we can.”

Drivers on the roadway won’t be the only people who may need assistance during the storm.

The Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) said they’ve transported 10 patients to local hospitals due to cold exposure and hypothermia thus far.   

Officials still encourage people to stay at home, but if you need to drive, they’re asking everyone to drive slow and take extra precautions.