Winter, we're ready for you

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - With a winter storm approaching the Miami Valley Thursday, 2 NEWS took a closer look at what everyone from road crews to airport officials to drivers are doing to get ready.

STORM PREPS

Bob Lenser is like a kid on Christmas morning, except he already knows what gift he's getting.

"I'm a snow lover," says the man who's in charge of keeping the Interstates in Montgomery County clear. "I've always enjoyed the snow."

But for many others the approaching storm will be more problem than present and it doesn't help that the last time we saw snow it came with a Valentine.

"The first snow is always tough," says Martha Kraft about the approaching storm.

But as Mother Nature prepares to flip the switch to winter, ODOT workers are ready to turn the key.

In Montgomery County crews have 22 trucks ready to go.

A few equipped with a new feature. Green-amber-and-white lights designed so you can see them better.

"I think it'll help," Lenser says. "I think the lights are much brighter than some of the lights we have now. It'll be an attention getter."

Those lights could certainly come in handy because combined with the wind the snow could make it harder to see and plow.

"With winds as high as they're forecasted that is definitely a concern with the drifting snow," Lenser says.

But whatever comes their way, crews will be on the roads dealing with it. Their new light pattern in some ways matching the colors of the holiday season, while they give the gift of safer streets.   

"Just plan some extra time and give our trucks plenty of room to do their job," Lenser says.

FLIGHTS DELAYED

The call was already going out early this afternoon about delayed or canceled flights, as many tried to reach their friends and family who might get stuck.

"We're trying to get a hold of her because I heard a lot of flights are being canceled out of Chicago," says Eileen Hake.

Hake was headed to Dallas with Oklahoma as her final destination, so her flight was fine.

But for her friend traveling to Oklahoma via Chicago, it's another story.

"We're trying to get her here now so she can leave out with us," Hake says.

On time was the buzzword for Thursday afternoon flights to and from Dayton International Airport, but the night brought with it delays for flights to Denver and Atlanta and cancelations to flights to Chicago.

"I don't think we're going to have a lot of problems in Dayton," says Aviation Director Terry Slaybaugh of the storm. "We may have problems with aircraft being able to get to Dayton if they're in an area that has bad weather."

The timing is right before what's expected to be a big travel weekend with Christmas around the corner.

But Slaybaugh says with a recent increase in traffic through Dayton, everyday is like a holiday.

"When we get to the holidays we see some difference but not a lot because it's pretty much like that all the time," Slaybaugh says.

So he's keeping his fingers crossed that Mother Nature doesn't cause too much havoc with the flight schedule.

"We're hoping that temperature stays up there and people are able to have a good travel weekend," Slaybaugh says.
 

DRIVING IN SNOW

Ray Keyton has been driving for decades, So when he gets behind the wheel you have nothing to worry about.

But he's not the only one you'll be sharing the road with.

"We're gonna have people out there that have never driven in snow," says Keyton, the Senior V-P at AAA.

That's why Keyton took us through a refresher course on winter driving, not only covering the emergency kits, salt, and deicer you should have in your trunk, but also the skills you should have in the driver's seat.

"Just watch out for the other guy," Keyton says. "Slow down and remember your stopping distances are much greater with snow on the road."

But drivers like Chuck Wadding aren't convinced that everyone will follow those rules.

"People out here have a tendency to freak out for no reason at all," Wadding says. "A little bit of snow isn't going to hurt anybody. It's very pretty."

But it can turn ugly in a hurry, although Wadding has his own forecast of what to expect.

"I don't think it's going to be the end of the world tomorrow and I don't think we're going to have a giant snowstorm," Wadding says.