The Snow Team is training, prepping vehicles, and getting ready for the upcoming snow season. Salt domes are full with extra material reserved ready to deliver if needed.
Winter Ready Resources
Kansas City is prepared for winter weather. Public Works stocks up on salt and Ice Ban more than six months in advance of the winter season. Training for all residential plow drivers is hosted in October to ensure employees know how to safely operate the equipment and utilize the internal plow tracking system.
Kansas City Snow Removal Plan
Primary and residential streets are plowed 24 hours per day until roads are clear.
All residential streets are plowed curb to curb instead of a "single pass" as was previous practice.
If you park on a City street when it snows, use the north or west side of the street so snow removal crews can do their job. If vehicles are parked on both sides of a narrow street, it may not leave enough space for a snowplow.
Do not park on signed emergency snow routes. Vehicles parked on these routes may be ticketed or towed during snowstorms.
Aggressive pre-treating of all roads before storms
New blue salt, called “Ice Ban” (magnesium chloride), works better at low temperatures than standard calcium chloride, and is less harmful to the environment.
400+ employees from several departments are trained as plow drivers to redeploy vehicles for day and night shifts.
Tandem plowing is used on wide, multi-lane, arterial streets with multiple trucks to efficiently clear streets on the first pass.
Trash and recycling services are suspended during big storms to redirect resources to the Snow Team and reduce the number of vehicles on the road.
Plow tracking technology and digital plow route management software ensures accountability, efficiency, and safety for all drivers.
Extreme Weather Plan Helps People Find Shelter and Aid
Organizations or agencies who are interested in assisting unhoused individuals by opening their own warming centers should read these considerations.
Snowy Weather Tips
Did you know Kansas City plows about 6,400 lane miles of pavement in its street system? That’s equivalent to a one lane road from here to Tokyo!
During the winter season, we encourage you to follow these tips during snow events to stay safe and help make our snow operations run smoothly and efficiently.
Please wait until the day after snow stops falling to call 311 or tweet to @KCMO311 about slick spots or missed streets. Crews take about one business day to finish a full pass on all assigned snow routes. If a crew is taken off of its assigned route to take individual requests, it will delay the entire snow operation.
Be a good neighbor and remove snow and ice from sidewalks on your property, whether residential or business, within 48-hours after a snowfall.
Avoid driving during snow events. If you must go out, keep water and blankets or an extra coat in your car for warmth, and keep the gas tank full.
Keep children from playing in snow banks along the road.
Make sure your vehicle has adequate tire tread to avoid getting stuck.
Keep a snow shovel in your trunk. You never know when you might need one during your travels.
When shoveling the end of your driveway where it meets the road, also clear a 10-foot strip along the curb to the left (when facing the road) to avoid snow plows pushing it back across your driveway. Watch a 41-second MoDOT video.
We appreciate your help and cooperation – please stay safe during winter weather!
Cold Weather Resources
Be Prepared
Winter storms may housebound us, knock out the power, or worse, strand us in our vehicles. Stay prepared with an emergency kit for your car, work, and home to avoid anxiety, discomfort, and even danger.
Repair water leaks and protect water pipes before the temperature drops to avoid an emergency situation. Be informed before the storm so you have a plan.
Do not leave your vehicle running unattended. That is an invitation for thieves to steal it, and City Ordinance prohibits it.
Call 911 if you are worried about the welfare of someone in this cold weather and have been unable to reach them.
Note that both residential and business sidewalks should be cleared of snow and ice in a reasonable time after winter storms have passed. This City ordinance is for the safety of residents.
If you are unable to shovel snow, many local faith-based organizations have snow shoveling volunteers.
The City has produced numerous videos dealing with cold weather. View the YouTube winter playlist of helpful tips on safety heaters, pet safety, preparing pipes and more.
Here are tips the Humane Society of Missouri recommends to protect your pet during cold weather:
Keep your pet inside.
Provide adequate shelter.
Be aware of antifreeze and rock salt.
Dry wet pets.
Provide adequate food and water. Snow is not a substitute for fresh water.
Animal Health staff will rescue pets found outside without proper shelter during extreme conditions and issue citations to their owners. Residents should report pets left outdoors during extreme weather by contacting 311 or the Kansas City Campus for Animal Care.
