From the roads to your home, experts urge precaution during snow storm

The snow mixed with freezing temperatures and wind can make the perfect storm for big issues on the roadway.

“This snow will be a particular challenge in that regard because we’re going to have high winds and the snow is going to stay for a while,” says Jim Westhoff, DelDOT Community Relations Officer. “So, we’ll have drifting back and forth, and we’ll have to keep re-plowing the roads repeatedly which is going to slow down our process.”

Westhoff says crews spent all day on Monday to prepare their equipment and staff more plowing than usual.

In Maryland, the State Highway Administration says they plan to add Liquid Magnesium Chloride to the salt, which is a mix they keep on hand for especially cold conditions.

However, the only sure-fire way to avoid danger on the roads is to avoid the roads.

“Get everything you need so you don’t have to drive tomorrow,” says Westhoff. “We don’t want anyone on the roads, especially after midnight, because the roads will probably be treacherous.”

However, staying inside still requires some planning, especially to keep your pipes from freezing or bursting.  Plumbing companies across Delmarva say frozen pipe reports are up, with some getting upwards of 70 calls just through Monday afternoon.

Among their tips, they recommend opening kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. They also recommend letting cold water drip from the faucet that might have pipes exposed to the cold.

Even once it is deemed safe to hit the roads, drivers still may not be in the clear. Car experts say the leftover salt on the roads can seriously damage almost any aspect of your car.

“Anything underneath that vehicle as well as on top of it, even on the interior too,” says Joe Farro, owner of Inside Out Car Care. “It is very important to get it off at least as soon as it gets on there.”

Farro recommends getting your car washed at least once a week.