Private Plow Businesses Pile Up Snow, Money, After Oklahoma Snow

While the ice and snow is a hassle for most of us, it's welcome for others; especially snow removal companies that haven't had much work over the past few years.

At shopping centers and businesses in Tulsa, and across the area, snow removal crews are going about the business of digging out of our latest winter snow.

For 12 hours straight, and with many more to come, Jeff Smith is going back and forth, in his 1989 F-250 with a snow plow on the front.

"I bought this old piece of junk and it's going to make me some money today," Smith said.

The long hours don't bother Smith at all. He'll clear the snow and ice off about 15 parking lots before he's finished. It's about more than just making money. What he plans to spend the money on is what keeps him going. Smith and his wife are saving to pay for the adoption of a little girl from the Philippines.

"Kind of easy working through the night when you know you're going to be raising some good money for our adoption," said Smith.

Across the street, Kevin Anderson was at the controls of a snow blower he just bought.

"I grew up in Iowa and lived there for 20 years and never had a snow blower, and we've just had so much snow here lately we just decided to buy one," Anderson said.

Anderson is clearing sidewalks and lots on properties owned by the company where he works.

While only getting a trace of snow in March over the past three years, it did snow as late as May last year. Going back more than 60 years in Eastern Oklahoma, to the 1950's, the month of March has produced three of the top five snowfall totals for the season.

So, who knows, there still may be more work for guys like Smith yet to come, more opportunities to save for the new addition to the family.

Of course it depends on the size of the job, but Smith said most snow removal crews get about $150 to clear a small business parking lot.