Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Temperatures will reach the mid-40s for the rest of the week, however lows will remain below freezing.
Tuesday brought below freezing temperatures, snow accumulation and school cancelations, meaning winter is here.
Even though winter comes as no surprise for Nebraskans, many are not prepared for its unexpected arrival.
According to interim Sidney Police Chief Joe Aikens, it's important to be more aware of the road during winter weather.
"Drive with your headlights on," he said. "You really want to watch out for others and slow down earlier when you're approaching an intersection."
He also reminded locals to make sure snow and ice are removed from all windows and mirrors before driving.
Cheyenne County Highway Department Superintendent Doug Hart said that roads are slippery throughout the county and there are staff members removing snow on the roads. He added that the roads will remain icy until tomorrow.
Other winter weather driving tips provided by the Region 21 Office of Emergency Management include: travel during daylight hours and make sure others are aware of your destination, route and arrival time; make sure your gas tank is full to avoid getting ice in the tank and fuel lines; and remain in your vehicle if you get stuck.
According to the Region 21 Office of Emergency Management, emergency kits should be kept in homes as well as cars in case of an unexpected event.
These kits should include: non-perishable food, bottled water, first aid kit, hygiene supplies, utility tools, important documents, portable radio, flashlight and batteries, manual can opener, cash, disposable camera, blankets of sleeping bag, local map, photos of family members, list of allergies, toothbrush and tooth paste and extra keys for home and vehicle.
Locals are also reminded to remove snow in front of their property.
"Property owners are required to remove the snow from the sidewalk in front of their property," said Ben Dayton, building and zoning administrator for the City of Sidney. "We've never had to penalize anyone for not having the snow removed, typically there's a 24 hour or so grace period after the snowfall to have the snow removed."
He also added that once the snow is removed from sidewalks it should not be relocated into the street.
Reader Comments(0)