Kaylee and Ezekiel Foster were the only kids sledding down Civitan Park’s south slope Monday afternoon — they were lucky to find a spot at all.

“It was pretty much solid snow this morning, but it all melted,” their father, Alan Foster of Fort Gibson said Monday afternoon as he and the kids trudged up a narrow band of snow near the bottom of the hill. “But I heard we’re getting two to three inches Tuesday.”

Snow-loving sledders aren’t the only ones preparing for more snow and ice today. Road crews and wrecker services also are preparing.

“We’re replenishing our sand and salt and fixing broken blades,” on the snow plows, said Muskogee Public Works Director Mike Stewart.

The Accuweather Web site predicts one to two inches of snow to fall tonight continuing through early Wednesday. The high today is expected to be 34 degrees. High temperatures should barely reach freezing Wednesday.

Stewart said the city managed to restock their road clearing supplies, even after using more than 30 tons of salt and sand over the weekend.

“Our crews put in 450 hours of overtime,” Stewart said. “Fortunately we did not get the snow that Tulsa got.”

Lee Buren, an employee of Okie Tow wrecker service, said wreckers stayed busy Friday and Saturday.

“There were big truck wrecks and a lot of people off on ditches,” he said, adding that cars slid off the road on the Muskogee Turnpike and U.S. 69.

“People just need to slow down,” Buren said.

Oklahoma AAA spokesman Chuck Mai said people need to take extra time and extra precautions when roads get slick.

“It’s a matter of time and space,” he said. “Always allow enough time to get where you are going. Over-estimate how much time it’s going to take you to get there, and leave enough time to clear any snow from the windshield and lights. The key is to see and be seen.”

Instead of allowing three or four seconds between you and the driver in front, slow down and allow eight to 10 seconds, Mai said.

“However, typically, when you allow that much space, some joker will move into the lane in front of you,” he said. “But think of what you have to do if you have to slam on the brakes.”

Also, don’t forget to be well-stocked, he said.

“The best thing to have is a gallon of windshield wiper fluid,” he said. “You will find you use it a lot. The spray kicked up by cars in front of you causes a muddy film on your windshield.”

Watch out when the snow starts melting, he said. “The stuff that melts likely will re-freeze, you might be lulled into a false sense of security thinking main roads are no longer slick.”

And make sure your cell phone is well-charged, he said.

The Southwest Center for Public Health Preparedness advises keeping the gas tank full; do not let it drop below half a tank.

The center, based at the University of Oklahoma, also advised keeping blankets and extra clothing and shoes in the car. Gather an emergency kit that includes candles, lighter, matches, snacks, water, a flashlight, battery operated radio, a hand-cranked charger for cell phones and an empty coffee container to melt snow for water. A small shovel also helps.

People also need to be careful when walking on ice.

“You definitely want to make sure you have good footing,” said Muskogee family practitioner, Dr. Jay Geary. “If you can walk on loosely-packed snow, it is better than walking on ice. Tread-less shoes are not going to get you far.”

Geary said hiking boots offer better traction than cowboy boots.

Geary also advised being careful when shoveling snow. Try to avoid straining the back.

Reach Cathy Spaulding at 684-2928 or cspaulding@muskogeephoenix.com



Prepare for cold

The Southwest Center for Public Health Preparedness says people should keep these items stocked in your home when cold weather hits:

• At least three days worth of food and water (extra water if you use a well with an electric pump); good options for food include beef jerky, trail mix, canned goods, crackers and other snacks.

• An alternate fuel source such as a generator and/or firewood and gasoline for the generator.

• Fire extinguisher.

• Rock salt or sand.

• Flashlight.

• Small or large shovel.

• Extra batteries.

• Candles with matches/lighter.

• Battery-operated radio and NOAA weather radio.

• Hand-cranked charger for cell phones.

Also, caulk windows, check for adequate insulation and spaces around doors.

Source: Southwest Center for Public Health Preparedness



Inform yourself

To check current road conditions in Oklahoma, call the Department of Public Safety's Road Conditions Hotline: (888) 425-2385.

Out-of-state road conditions

• Arkansas, (800) 245-1672

• Colorado, (303) 639-1111

• Kansas, (866) 511-5368

• Missouri, (800) 222-6400

• New Mexico, (800) 432-4269

• Texas, (800) 452-9292

Source: Oklahoma Department of Transportation