Oklahoma Crews Prepare To Keep Roads Open During Winter Weather

Another round of winter weather is about to roll through Green Country and county crews are preparing to keep the roads open. Rogers County leaders said it's a "hurry up and wait" process and there's only so much they can do ahead of time.

Emergency responders will tell you the cold, hard fact: they don't get a 'snow day.'

"There's no, 'close the doors and go home,'" said Sheriff Scott Walton, Rogers County.

That applies to the jail as well.

"That hotel goes 24/7. 365 days a year. Those inmates have to be watched and cared for," said Sheriff Walton.

Rogers Country Sheriff Scott Walton said the weather has a mind of its own and rural roads bear the brunt of it.

"There is no magical vehicle that gets us anywhere that we want to go," said Walton.

Walton said Rogers County is better prepared than some counties, enabling workers to clear the streets more effectively.

"Hats off to those men and women who are working around the clock to do that job," said Walton.

He said the winter weather could impact deputies' response times.

"We'll do our best to get there but on even given day, on a good day with clear roads, you know our staff is spread so thin to cover so many miles," said Walton.

Road workers have started treating some roads, bridges, and hillsides with a brine solution. Emergency Management Director, Scotty Stokes, said the county has plenty of salt and sand to help with traction and melting, along with plow trucks.

"Rogers County is very prepared for the oncoming storm. We've had worse this year. We've taken care of all the situations with those very well. So, we've had a little bit of practice this year," said Scotty Stokes, Director of Emergency Management.

He said each of the three districts in Rogers County has anywhere from 25-30 folks available to work on rotation, depending on the severity of the storm.

The Rogers County Sheriff's Office asks drivers to give crews plenty of space while they're working, for everyone's safety.