Cookeville Storm-Ready With Plows Set

Cookeville prepared for the oncoming snow with two on-call crews ready to salt and plow the roads.

Public Works Director Mary Beth Elrod said the city has one dump truck with a salt spreader and two with spreaders and snow plows. Elrod said the city will prioritize clearing main roads, including routes to and from the hospital and any roads needed to access emergency services and nursing homes.

“We then also prioritize and work with dispatch to make it to any emergency calls such as fires, wrecks, any type of ambulance call outs that we need,” Elrod said. “Once we get those done, we then start working our ways out to secondary roads as our resources allow us to.”

Elrod said the city will also focus on caring for all known roadways prone to developing ice. Elrod said the storm will be very manageable if stays within three to four inches of snow as predicted.

“If it takes a turn for the worse and comes with ice, freezing rain before or comes in with larger amounts like six to eight to ten inches of snow, that’s when we just have to focus on the main roads,” Elrod said.

Elrod said her department will pretreat the road with salt if it is not raining before the snow comes, otherwise they will start salting the roads once the snow begins. Elrod said the salt lowers the freezing point of snow it comes in contact with, making it easier to remove.

“We do ask people to stay at home as much as possible,” Elrod said. “We know that a lot of us are essential workers and we have to go in because we have to provide services. So any of those that are essential workers, please think out your route.”

Elrod said anyone who has to drive should stick to main roadways and avoid large hills, constantly shaded areas, and curves, all which are likely to get icy. Elrod said drivers should also notify someone like their family, neighbors, or workplace where they plan to go, what they plan to do, and what time they expect to return.

“They can plan and check and make sure that you make it there safely and get back safely,” Elrod said.

Elrod said the dedicated emergency crew consists of six men and the regular on-call crew has nine. Elrod said all the men are CDL licensed and many of them can operate heavy equipment.

“If it all possibly stay in, stay warm and have a good weekend and enjoy the snow,” Elrod said.

Elrod said the city’s salt bin on Jackson Avenue is currently full with some 1,000 tons of salt in it. Elrod said this supply will equip the dump truck spreaders with salt while the pickup truck will use bagged salt. Elrod said the city will monitor its salt supply and order more once the bin is halfway empty.

“We anticipate with the forecasts that we will be done with this event by Monday,” Elrod said. “It looks like the sun and warmth will come out on Sunday and we will be able to take care and clear anything and everything will just melt off and hopefully by Monday we will be done.”