How Henrico emergency responders brace for snowstorms
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- As snow begins to blanket parts of Central Virginia, emergency responders are gearing up for a long stretch of tricky weather. “We’re just like everybody else,” said battalion chief Doug Reynolds with the Henrico County Division of Fire. “We watch the news and see what our weather people are talking about. When we know the storm is coming, we get ready.” Reynolds said that Henrico Fire prepares by beefing up staff, as its crews will get calls for just about anything on snow days -- and, of course, fire calls still come through. "Fires can be tricky with all the cold," Reynolds said. "Once those temperatures dip below freezing, we’ve got to keep the water in our trucks from freezing. Each truck carries 750 gallons, so it’s important that we keep it flowing." These preparations go beyond ensuring water won't freeze. As firefighters will be out in the snow, they need to be protected against the elements, too. Henrico-based organization offers shelter to those in need during snowstorm "You always want to have waterproof gloves, extra clothing -- and make sure the truck is equipped for conditions like these," Reynolds said. "We keep ice melt and sand in the trucks, too ... You can still drive on that snow, but even for us, driving on ice is super hard." Those dangerous conditions are why officials are urging people to stay off the roads if they are able to, as Central Virginia is expecting more winter weather on Thursday. "The chance that you could run into slick roads out there," said AAA spokesperson Morgan Dean. "It does not take much accumulation at all for the roads to become slick." Dean said that, if you cannot stay off the road, he has a few tips. ‘Don’t go outside, you’ll catch a cold!’ Or will you? "Drivers should clear all of that snow and ice off of their vehicle," he said. "The next thing they need to do [is] give themselves extra time to get where they're going with the snow we're seeing on the roadways." You can find even more safe winter driving tips here.
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- As snow begins to blanket parts of Central Virginia, emergency responders are gearing up for a long stretch of tricky weather.
“We’re just like everybody else,” said battalion chief Doug Reynolds with the Henrico County Division of Fire. “We watch the news and see what our weather people are talking about. When we know the storm is coming, we get ready.”
Reynolds said that Henrico Fire prepares by beefing up staff, as its crews will get calls for just about anything on snow days -- and, of course, fire calls still come through.
"Fires can be tricky with all the cold," Reynolds said. "Once those temperatures dip below freezing, we’ve got to keep the water in our trucks from freezing. Each truck carries 750 gallons, so it’s important that we keep it flowing."
These preparations go beyond ensuring water won't freeze. As firefighters will be out in the snow, they need to be protected against the elements, too.
Henrico-based organization offers shelter to those in need during snowstorm
"You always want to have waterproof gloves, extra clothing -- and make sure the truck is equipped for conditions like these," Reynolds said. "We keep ice melt and sand in the trucks, too ... You can still drive on that snow, but even for us, driving on ice is super hard."
Those dangerous conditions are why officials are urging people to stay off the roads if they are able to, as Central Virginia is expecting more winter weather on Thursday.
"The chance that you could run into slick roads out there," said AAA spokesperson Morgan Dean. "It does not take much accumulation at all for the roads to become slick."
Dean said that, if you cannot stay off the road, he has a few tips.
‘Don’t go outside, you’ll catch a cold!’ Or will you?
"Drivers should clear all of that snow and ice off of their vehicle," he said. "The next thing they need to do [is] give themselves extra time to get where they're going with the snow we're seeing on the roadways."
You can find even more safe winter driving tips here.
