Officials outline Louisville snow response as region braces for weekend winter storm

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Crews across Louisville are gearing up as a winter storm with bitter cold temperatures is expected to hit the region Saturday afternoon.

A Winter Storm Warning was issued for the Kentuckiana area Thursday, starting at 1 a.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Monday.

WDRB's meteorologists are forecasting a heavy snow mixed with sleet and freezing rain with totals ranging from 10-14 inches. Those totals could change as the forecast updates Thursday and Friday.

City leaders outlined the preparations underway Thursday to prepare for the storm as crews put brine on roads. 

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Louisville public works crews said they’re ready — with what they’re calling “100 snow-fighting machines.”

That number doesn’t mean 100 snow plows. For now, the city’s big orange trucks are treating roads with a brine solution. The plows and salt spreaders won’t be mounted until just before the snow begins to fall.

Bill Bell, director of the Louisville Metro Department of Transportation said crews have been out brining Thursday and will continue to do so throughout the night. Bell said they have an "additive" ready to add when temperatures drop. It's a combination of molasses and magnesium chloride, a chemical that keeps it from freezing and keeps precipitation from adhering to the asphalt. 

Emergency crews are also getting ready to respond to any accidents that may happen, including Louisville Fire.

Chief Brian O'Neill says the three things people need to think about this weekend are hydrants, homes and heat. Meaning if you're shoveling, it's helpful to fire crews if you shovel around hydrants.

Also, make sure you have blankets and extra clothes to keep yourself warm. He asks that you don't use a space heater unless you absolutely have to and if, don't keep it near anything flammable. If you haven't used your fireplace in a while, this weekend is not the time.

"Please do not try to use an oven, a stove, something like that to keep warm turn to those blankets, turn to the extra clothes that you have, stay in smaller areas," says O'Neill.

When plowing begins

Bell said salting would start Saturday morning. Once accumulation starts and gets up to about two inches, plows would start hitting the roads.

Salt won’t go down on the streets until just a few hours before the first flakes fall. And while it may seem strange to see plow trucks driving through the snow without the blade on the pavement, officials said that’s all part of the plan.

"We have a significant snow event coming in, we just caution folks to take their time. If they have the ability to stay indoors, stay in. Let the crews, that do an amazing job for Metro, let them get out and do the work that they do. Also, if you can exhibit some patience, that would be beneficial. If you're around our trucks, give our trucks and our folks plenty of room to do their work," Wes Sydnor, executive director of Metro Public Works, said.

Sydnor said they are implementing suggestions included in a report conducted by a consultant called in to review the city's snow response. Those include equipment upgrades, making sure staffing is where it needs to be and an increase in brining. Sydnor said they've done more brining this year than "maybe several years combined."

Officials said they're gong to work "through the completion of the event," pulling every resource possible to address "potentially a historic snowfall."

"Again, show some patience and give yourself plenty of time, always have a plan in terms of, you know, if you're leaving the house, if you're on the road make sure you have supplies and things to have with you in case you get stuck somewhere or something happens," Sydnor said. "Again, if you can stay off the roads this weekend while we're doing this work of treating, that would be the preference."

Public works will have about 50 drivers on duty at all times, with contractors brought in to help cover more ground.

Bell said the city has a contractor on standby to help with clearing additional roadways if needed.

Snow routes

Those who live along emergency snow routes are asked to move their vehicles. Sydnor said that's critical to make sure crews can get through to clear the roadways and get the snow off the road, as well as to prevent vehicles from being snowed in. He added that the department would be working with Louisville Metro Police when it comes to vehicles on snow routes.

Damage from snow plows

If a snow plow damages a vehicle or piece of property in the process, Sydnor said staff are instructed to stop and note an incident. If you have a claim, call Metro 311. Sydnor said they will have a team that will come out and address it.

"It's a human effort. The intent is to go out and have a perfect run and never have an incident, but you are talking about bad weather and sometimes slick conditions, so that can happen," he said. "We don't want that to happen, but we will make it right when those situations happen."

Bell added that if they can send a supervisor at the time of an incident, they will, but it's dependent on the conditions and the weather. He reiterated that if something does happen, call Metro 311. 

As temperatures drop over the next few days, Bell and Sydnor said they would be making operational changes depending on the changing temperatures.

"We are dedicated, we have a great team that is working on this and we have great resources that we are pulling in and we will work around the clock until everyone is ready to go and things are back to a state of somewhat normalcy," Sydnor said.

Road salt reserves

City crews aren't worried about salt supply, as there are reserves they're able to pull from should the salt domes run out.

The city's snow routes are mapped online. Though not "exactly" in real time, Sydnor said routes are updated as they are in progress or completed. The map can be found on the city's website by clicking here.

For more resources from the city and information about the city's snow response, click here.

Preparing for the storm at home

While city crews are focused on the streets, shoppers across Louisville are focused on their grocery lists. Big stores were packed Thursday night, with parking lots full and shelves picked clean.

At a smaller grocery store in the Highlands, however, the scene was a little calmer — even if carts were still full.

“I’m actually all the way from the other end of town,” said shopper Diannah Nun. “It’s completely packed in Kroger’s, but I got everything I needed here — and even found a parking spot and a cart.”

Valu Mart, the longtime neighborhood store where Nun was shopping, is nearing its final months. The mall property has been sold, and the store is expected to close in May. For regulars like Annie and Jason Harlow, that’s bittersweet.

“The Costcos and Trader Joe’s are probably packed too,” Jason said. “But this is a neighborhood place. The people who live within 1,000 feet are the ones who come here all the time.”

The Harlows remember what it’s like to be on the other side of the checkout counter.

“It was not fun at all,” Jason said, recalling his time working for a big grocery chain. “It was miserable.”

Whether it’s stocking up or salting down, the message from both shoppers and city crews is the same: be ready now rather than risk getting caught in the storm later.