Washington (DC News Now) – The area snow team is preparing for winter weather this weekend.
On Thursday, crews began pre-treating snow emergency roads with brine starting at 7 p.m
“[It’s] Mix salt and juice with water. “This app buys us some time,” explained Warnick West, citywide snow coordinator. “The percussion juice helps it stick to the road better. Once the snow falls, it doesn't freeze to the ground immediately, so it gives us time to remove the salt.”
Starting at 10 p.m. Friday, a snow team of 147 heavy plows will deploy. They will handle highways, streets, bridges and more. Eighty-seven light plows will handle the smaller roads.
According to West, this will mark the third deployment of a snowfall event this year.
It was a lot. “We are constantly planning,” she said. “I think if we don't push snow, we plan for snow. This is actually a year-round operation. We always plan for snow even during the offseason.”
The region's total salt capacity is 42 thousand tons.
West said between 35 and 40 percent of that supply has been used so far this year.
“The area is prepared and ready. We are ready for the snow. We are ready to get on the roads and fight this storm and make sure the roads are clear for Saturday,” she said.