Oklahomans Trying To Stock Up, Prepare For Next Wave Of Winter Weather

Oklahomans are getting ready for the next wave of winter weather after an already busy week.

Road crews are making sure their equipment is working, and businesses are trying to supply their shoppers with the essentials. News On 6 met Walter Tate, a Tulsa plumber who was shopping at M & M Lumber, Thursday afternoon.

"We're here to get three or four bags of sand to put out in our parking lot to keep from sliding and busting our butts falling," said Tate while laughing.

M & M Lumber in Tulsa said 90 percent of its shoppers this week want ice melt, sand mix, gloves and hats.

Manager Whitney McKellar said the store sold out of 20,000 pounds of ice melt in four days.

"A lot of our suppliers are not delivering right now nor are we,” explained McKellar. “We haven't made a delivery all week due to the safety of our drivers, our trucks, other people on the road."

Meanwhile, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation said crews are trying to keep the roads safe for those who do have to drive.

Kenna Mitchell with ODOT said there are crews in all 77 counties and more than 500 trucks statewide.

"We've also taken the time to make sure that all of our equipment is ready to go,” said Mitchell. “The snowplows are ready and on trucks and also making sure that all of our salt and sand facilities are reloaded, and we are fully at capacity, ready to go."

Mitchell said ODOT has not added up the amount of salt and sand used so far, but supply is not a concern.

"We do want to assure everyone that we do have plenty of salt and sand on hand at our county facilities and also have reserved supplies as well," said Mitchell.

Mitchell also said ODOT plans to have all hands on deck the next few days, including more than 800 people on maintenance staff statewide.

The ODOT fleet in Tulsa County alone includes 30 trucks that are running at any given time, according to Mitchell.