LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – During every emergency in Lincoln and Lancaster County, like Friday’s severe winter storm, there are groups of people prepared for the worst to help local leaders achieve the best outcomes.
One group is the Lincoln-Lancaster County Emergency Management, which monitors severe weather, among other duties.
A row of screens, a marker board chart of important local agencies and a dozen ways to watch the weather; that’s the constant scene in the Emergency Operations Center, fortified to stand in Nebraska’s worst weather.
Three people there monitored conditions in the county on Friday, communicating with groups like the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and Lincoln Fire and Rescue to see where they can help.
“I don’t tell them to how to do their jobs,” said Jim Davidsaver, Lincoln-Lancaster County Emergency Management. “I ask how can I help them do their jobs, and a lot of times, when we’re dealing with severe weather, severe winter weather, it’s providing them the most current and accurate information on the current conditions.”
They have a board room where local officials can meet securely to coordinate a collective response to disaster. They didn’t need to do that on Friday because Davidsaver said each individual agency has been handling it well. Even when there’s no one at the agency to directly monitor events, the team is always on call.
Meanwhile, plow crews have been battling constant drifts in 12-hour shifts across Lincoln. City officials said there were 165 snow fighters out clearing paths in the snow Friday morning.
The biting wind wreaked havoc on the roads.
“We are having trouble keeping up with the wind blowing as hard as it is,” said Tom Edwards, a city equipment operator. “So it’s just a constant plowing process right now.”
Drifts, stacking up by the foot, set traps for unsuspecting drivers and even snow plow operators.
“These trucks are no different than a normal car,” Edwards said. “Anyone can get stuck. So that’s where you just have to be patient.”
Edwards has been doing this for four years, and he said part of what keeps him going through the stress and close call is the thought that he’s making the city safer for those who follow his path.
“I really don’t see the pride while I am at work, but I see the pride when I get off of work,” Edwards said. “And I’m on my way home or I’m on my way to do my errands that I need to do, and the streets are drivable, they’re clear of snow.”
Click here to subscribe to our 10/11 NOW daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.
Copyright 2024 KOLN. All rights reserved.
