Oklahoma City crews preparing for winter weather

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Crews are preparing to clear snow routes should the City see snow or ice overnight Friday into Saturday.

Due to rain and thunderstorms in the forecast before the snow, the City will not pre-treat bridges and overpasses like usual.

Officials say the City will have salt and plow trucks loaded and on-call ready to keep roads clear should winter weather occur.

Crews limit their salting to the City's snow routes only, officials said, and the snow routes can be found here.

The City reminds residents to turn off their sprinklers at home or their business to prevent more ice from forming on sidewalks and streets.

Preparation tips From the Office of Emergency Management:

Know the snow routes in your area. There are interactive maps at okc.gov/prepare and data.okc.gov.

Items for winter storms to add to your disaster kit include additional non-perishable food and water for one or two weeks, extra blankets, coats, gloves, winter hats, and water-resistant boots.

Keep your pets safe. Click here for tips from OKC Animal Welfare.

Keep your cellphone charged.

Open cabinet doors below sinks and let faucets drip if temperatures remain below freezing for a day or more. Call (405) 297-3334 if your pipes burst so City crews can shut off water to your home. Click here for more information about protecting your pipes in winter.

Make sure elderly family members, friends and neighbors are prepared for the storm, and check on them during and after the storm.

Click here for more winter safety tips.

Driving safety tips from the City:

Use extra caution when driving over bridges and overpasses.

Turn off your automatic sprinkler systems.

Remember that posted speed limits are only to be followed during ideal weather conditions. Slow down while driving on snow or ice.

Give salt trucks plenty of room – stay at least 100 feet behind them so salt won’t get thrown on your car.

Plan ahead by getting up and leaving the house earlier.

Keep at least a three-car distance from the car in front of you

Steer and brake more slowly than usual.

Keep warm shoes and clothes in your car.

Clear all snow and ice from your vehicle before setting out.

Proceed carefully through intersections.

Have a plan if you slide off the road – who are you going to call?

Safety tips for alternative heating sources from OKCFD:

Make sure working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are properly installed in your home. Alarms should be installed outside each separate sleeping area. Test your smoke alarms monthly and install fresh batteries annually.

Give space heaters their space. Keep combustible material at least three feet away from the heater.

Keep all combustible materials off of floor furnaces.

Remove any combustibles from central heater closets.

Use a metal grate to hold logs inside fireplaces.

Use an approved metal or glass screen in front of fireplaces to prevent embers from flying out of the firebox.

Remember to open the damper before lighting the fireplace.

Never use your oven to heat your home.