 The storm that moved into the area on Sunday dumped just over a foot
of snow in the Lincoln area, leaving some caught out in it and in
need of rescue.Greenslate said first he wanted to thank and
commend his officers for doing a good job of taking care of the
public on Sunday.
The city had to use its government-issued Humvees to help rescue
people who were stranding in various areas. He said there were a
large number of motorist assists and a large number of people coming
off the interstate. The department took people to local motels, and
the overflow was taken to Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, where
warming stations were set up for the stranded.
Jackson said that on Monday morning the department received
several calls that they had missed or forgotten certain parts of
town. Jackson said that was not the case. In truth the city had
several problems that put them about four hours behind what they
would like to have been.
He noted there were three trucks that got stuck. There were no
local wreckers large enough to pull them out, so the city used end
loaders to push and pull until they got them out.
Of those three, one was a salt truck and the leaf springs broke,
so it had to be parked. On another truck, the wiper motor assembly
went out, so it, too, had to be parked. He said NAPA is good about
coming in during the night and getting parts for the trucks, but
these were special-order parts.
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In addition, one truck experienced a flat tire. Again there was
no one to call for on-site service. He said they had to drive the
truck into the shop on the flat, thus ruining the rim as well.
However, he said the department did have a spare tire and rim, and
once the truck was in the shop, they were able to get it fixed and
back out on the streets.
Jackson also noted that plowing in some areas was challenging as
there were some motorists who got stuck in intersections and just
abandoned their vehicles. He said the city would then have to work
around them and come back later to clear the intersection after the
cars were moved.
He noted they also did some assistance for the local police.
Bruce Carmitchel commented that he really did think the
department did a good job of working through the storm.
In a lighthearted manner, though, he told Jackson, "I had my
driveway cleared, and then the city came and plowed."
Jackson quipped back, "You're the one who called and didn't leave
a phone number or name!" bringing laughs from everyone in the group.
[By NILA SMITH]
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