A truck in the Greenfield Street Department worked hard to ensure street traffic after a major storm last winter.

Hancock County-This is not a topic that most people want to think about, but this is the time of the year when the temperature drops and winter weather is approaching. State and local officials urge people to prepare to travel under less than ideal conditions.

The area has a 40% chance of snow as early as Sunday.

Governor Eric Holcomb announced that Winter Weather Preparation Week will be held in Indiana from November 7th to 13th, and local officials support this cause.

Captain Robert Harris, the public information officer of the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, said that now is a good time for people to start thinking about cold weather and poor road conditions.

Harris said that one of the most important things people can do is to make sure their phones are fully charged and equipped with mobile chargers when traveling. It is also good to let family or friends know when and where they are traveling.

"In this way, if someone does not arrive when they should arrive, the responder will know the possible inspection route," Harris said.

Harris pointed out that the county highway department did a good job of road maintenance after the storm. However, when extreme winter weather strikes, road workers and first responders may be delayed, so stranded drivers must be prepared to wait.

"The most important thing is to slow down and drive safely," Harris said.

Gary Poole, the county engineer in charge of the highway department, said the pandemic has made preparations for the season more difficult, especially in terms of repairing equipment.

"But we are getting there," Poole said.

Poole pointed out that the county also lacks some snowplow drivers

The highway department is responsible for managing approximately 600 miles of road, monitoring forecasts a few days in advance, and planning its strategy based on the type of precipitation predicted. Roads are usually pre-treated with liquid brine and regularly treated with rock salt. At colder temperatures, using salt and brine alone takes longer to activate, so additional chemicals are needed to increase effectiveness.

Drivers are encouraged to carry an emergency kit in their car with food, water, mobile phone charger, sand or cat litter, flares or bright LED substitutes, flashlights and blankets. Emergency preparedness experts say that filling vehicles with gasoline is also a good idea.

People should also have bottled water, food, and necessities at home in case there is a power outage or roads are impassable.

Officials from the National Weather Service and the Indiana Department of Transportation, together with local officials, encouraged people to take immediate measures to prepare for the harm caused by the winter weather.

This includes some tips, such as slowing down depending on the situation, especially on snow-covered roads, and never trailing or driving next to the snowplow, because the driver may not be able to see nearby vehicles.

The safest place on the road during winter storms is behind the snowplow, but for drivers who must pass, they should proceed with caution and remember to use the appropriate speed according to the conditions.

According to the National Weather Service, there are more than 66,000 variations in winter storms. Snow, ice, freezing rain and fog can all pose challenges for winter travel. Even after pretreatment and regular treatment during and after the storm, the road will become smooth.

Tony Bratcher, the public information officer of the Sugar Creek Township Fire Department, reminded drivers that colder weather does not mean that there will be fewer roads and community buildings. People need to slow down and keep their eyes open.

"Cold weather will bring too much dirt and water to the roads near the construction site," Bracher said. "Now we have increased traffic on all county roads, because one road is closed on any given day, which will cause more traffic to flow to our county roads."

Bratcher also pointed out that despite the cold weather, many children still walk to and from school in winter; drivers need to pay attention to them.

"Regardless of the time of the year, we must share all roads," Bracher said.

Other tips include having a mechanic check your vehicle to make sure it is in good working condition and make sure that all liquids (including windshield washer fluid) are topped up.

It’s also good to know your vehicle. Today’s vehicles have many built-in driver assistance safety features that some people may not know. Now is the time to check your user manual to understand the situation.

Bratcher said that for people traveling with children, it is also important to ensure that the safety seats are installed correctly and that all riders wear seat belts.

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