Sioux Falls aims to have all streets plowed by noon Thursday
Sioux Falls' street operations manager says the goal is to have the city's streets plowed by noon Thursday, following a winter storm that buried the city in more than 13 inches of snow between late Monday night and Wednesday morning.
Dustin Hansen made the comments at a Wednesday morning press conference held by city officials to discuss the response to the storm, which brought much of the city to a halt Tuesday as law enforcement urged against travel.
"When we issue a no travel advisory, we mean it," said Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum, adding he believed a significant number of residents took that advisory to heart.
Still, emergency manager Regan Smith said there were a total of 194 vehicles reported stranded from Tuesday morning through Wednesday morning. Accidents were lower, with 27 non-injury accidents reported and three injury accidents.
More:Sioux Falls is having one of its snowiest seasons with latest winter storm, NWS says
Smith said Sioux Falls Fire Rescue remains in "storm mode," with borrowed snowplows being used to help them respond to any emergencies on covered roads. Smith asked as residents shovel the snow from their sidewalks and driveways that they take a moment to dig out any nearby fire hydrants as well.
Mayor Paul TenHaken asked for patience in the community as the city digs out from the storm, saying his office has received multiple phone calls from people asking when plows would be on their streets.
Hansen said more than 200 people, including contractors, are currently working 12-hour shifts, and began plowing residential areas last night after emergency routes had been finished. He added continuing Wednesday snowfall could require that plows return to those emergency routes.
“Our goal is to have the entire city plowed out early tomorrow morning, no later than noon," Hansen said.
More:Minnehaha County plow operator dies while helping clear roads during Tuesday's storm
TenHaken closed the press conference by asking residents to pray for the coworkers, friends and family of a Minnehaha County plow operator who died on Tuesday while helping clear roads. TenHaken also urged support of the city's small business community as they recover from the storm.
The city remains under a winter weather advisory through 6 p.m. Wednesday, with gusting winds and light snowfall potentially causing drifting. The National Weather Service forecast for the next week is below.
Today: Snow showers, mainly before 2pm. High near 24. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Tonight: Scattered snow showers before 7pm, then a chance of snow between 7pm and midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 13. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Thursday: Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 20. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 5. West northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 19. Calm wind becoming east southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 7. East northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 18.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 8.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 23.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 11.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 25.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 12.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 24.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls leaders hope to have streets plowed by noon Thursday
