WASHOE COUNTY NEWS RELEASE
Washoe County’s road crews are busy clearing streets as a result of today’s storm, with 22 snowplows beginning operations early this morning. “We’ll be out all day and night to make sure this evening’s commute is clear and safe,” said Washoe County Road Operations Superintendent Adam Searcy. “Our main job is to support the safety and mobility of our residents by plowing and treating county streets as efficiently as possible, as well as to provide fiscally responsible emergency response services during any snow event.”
Crews also began applying de-icing solution yesterday to Washoe County roads, as cold temperatures are anticipated to remain for several days. There are more than 1,000 miles of roads in Washoe County to potentially clear during snow events, and Searcy said there are many ways residents can help speed the snow and ice clearing process:
- When shoveling a driveway, please don’t dump the snow on the sidewalk or roadway, as this increases the snow that’s likely to become a berm in your driveway when a plow goes by.
- Be visible to snowplow operators by maintaining a safe distance behind them.
- Understand that roads will be plowed in accordance with the regional snow plan, which prioritizes which roads get cleared first based upon safety considerations.
- Keep all objects out of the road, gutters and right-of-way so they don’t become flying objects.
- Keep all drainage outlets open if possible to help control the melt-off from snow and ice as temperatures rise during the day.
- Keep vehicles and garbage cans off the streets so crews can plow the entire street.
The County’s Snow and Ice Control Plan for the winter lists Priority 1 roads, known as major highways, arterials and collector streets necessary for schools and hospitals, as the first to be plowed. Priority 2 roads, which are normal neighborhood streets, are next, followed by Priority 3 routes, such as cul-de-sacs and industrial streets. Information regarding individual streets can be found at http://wcgisweb.washoecounty.us/SnowPlow.
For more information on the Washoe County Snow and Ice Control Plan, please visit www.washoecounty.us/snow or call (775) 328-2180 with general questions.
