Published: November 25, 2009 10:50 pm      

Crews ready for white stuff on Black Friday

Forecasters say region could see 2-4” of snow

Black Friday shoppers could be in for a snowy start to the holiday gift buying season — the National Weather Service is predicting 2 to 4 inches for many parts of southern West Virginia.

John Victory, a meteorologist with the NWS in Charleston, said the snow is expected to begin tonight and end Friday night, producing anywhere from a dusting in lower elevations to up to 4 inches in areas with elevations above 2,000 feet.

The season’s first snowfall means shoppers won’t be the only ones on the road early Friday morning. Area road crews are ready for the snow and will be out in full force in efforts to make traveling conditions as safe as possible.

“Right now, we’re good to go,” said Bill Frey, acting supervisor with the Beckley Board of Public Works. “We hope it doesn’t snow, but if it does, we’ll sure be ready.”

Local crews have been preparing for the upcoming winter season for several months, checking on existing and ordering new equipment.

“Mechanics have gone through and checked our equipment and we have a lot of new equipment, so that helps a lot,” said Mark Carver, public works director for Lewisburg. “We’re ready.”

In addition to routine maintenance, securing a sufficient salt supply is of utmost importance.

“Last year, when everybody was running tight on salt, we had already put our order in (for this year),” said Bill Lanham, Fayetteville town superintendent. “We try to plan ahead of time so if you have ice or a major snowstorm, we’re able to get the Town of Fayetteville ready to move.”

Officials in both Beckley and Lewisburg say they are also good to go in terms of salt supplies.

“Right now, we have about 90 tons of No. 9 (fine gravel) abrasives that we add with salt and we have 400 tons of salt,” Frey said of Beckley’s supply.

“We kind of got ready early this year from years before,” he continued. “We’re stocked up and ready to go.”

Carver said Lewisburg has a new salt storage building, enabling crews to “start stockpiling on site.”

All three men say crews will be ready to go as soon as they receive word from their county 911 centers alerting them of areas in need of treatment.

“Communications is always paramount in winter snow removal,” Lanham said. “We work closely with the 911 center, so when we get the call, we’re ready.”

Carver echoed, adding Lewisburg uses a pager system enabling 911 dispatchers to alert workers 24/7.

Although Lanham says workers are ready for wintry weather, he does ask that the public be patient and exercise caution.

“Be courteous to our crews,” he said. “They’re trying to do their job.”

E-mail: mjames@register-herald.com