Cary, NC, Presents Annual 'Snow Rodeo'

So long, Summer! Mother Nature is turning down the heat just in time for the Town of Cary’s Snow Rodeo, an annual winter weather exercise set for Wednesday, October 18.

The A-Team will assemble at Snow Command starting at 7 a.m. for a five-hour refresher on winter weather best practices. On the streets, Cary drivers will see snow plows out, re-familiarizing themselves with equipment and routes. Inside, staff will review snow removal procedures and practice safe driving maneuvers to ensure familiarity and safety. Brine trucks were recalibrated and tested last week using water to ensure equipment was in working order. At Snow Command, all employees will participate in several classroom exercises: chainsaw safety, vehicle safety, echelon plowing techniques and safe driving tips.

“Our winter weather drill is a decade-old practice that sets us up for a successful season,” said Scott Hecht, Public Works Director. “We work hard in every winter weather storm to return to normal operations as quickly and safely as possible, and these exercises help us find holes in processes and practices we can remedy before the first snowflake.”

In real winter weather emergencies, the Town’s brine trucks are out 18-24 hours in advance of predicted weather to pretreat streets in an effort to prevent frozen precipitation from sticking. The Town does not clear private parking lots, including those in apartment and condominium communities or at businesses and commercial centers. This year’s winter storm inventory includes 77 pieces of equipment – 54 plows and 23 spreaders – along with 900 tons of salt and 2,500 tons of salt/sand mix. There are 766 linear miles of streets in Cary, 557 of which are in subdivisions.

Take time now to ensure your home is prepared for adverse winter weather. Learn how to use your home’s master water shut off valve in the event of frozen/broken utility pipes. Review the NC Highway Patrol’s tips for driving in winter weather. Additionally, citizens in both Wake and the Chatham County portion of Cary are encouraged to visit www.ReadyWake.com to elect to receive real-time notifications from Cary Town government.