After thousands of weather-related responses, Nebraska State Patrol ready for more winter weather
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. -- It’s been a busy week for the Nebraska State Patrol and it looks like troopers aren’t going to have a break for a while.
Troop C Captain Dean Riedel said the winter storm, road conditions and cold weather have kept troopers occupied. He has nothing but praise for how his Grand Island-based team responded.
“They always do a great job they step up to the challenge. When asked to do extra work or work extra hours, they always step up,” Riedel said.
Just this last week, he said his region responded to 630 motorist assists – and that’s not including all the time spent helping the Nebraska Department of Transportation with pulling vehicles out and looking for stranded drivers.
Over the last nine days, the NSP said troopers across the state have responded to more than 2,000 weather-related incidents. Plow operators from the Nebraska Department of Transportation worked for days to reopen 1700 miles of highways.
“We never know when a winter storm hits what the road conditions are going to be like and then what people's travel habits are going to be," Riedel said. "So we’re prepared for that, it just takes a little bit more manpower, a little bit more time."
The state patrol is urging people to take precautions and be prepared for continued winter driving conditions. Riedel wants people to make sure they know where they're going, have water, food, warm clothes, hats, gloves and a phone charger.
“Weather is going to be bad, and you’re expecting it, and you don’t have to travel and I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t recommend travel,” Riedel said.