Ann Arbor snow removers plan for long days, long nights as storm nears
The snowstorm expected to hit the Ann Arbor area this afternoon has prompted some local businesses to step up preparations.
The storm could mean a long night for the workers of A.M. Services, Inc., an Ann Arbor snow removal business, 3460 E. Ellsworth Road, that expects to plow some 800 driveways and parking lots.
The Ann Arbor area could see between 10 and 15 inches of snowfall between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday afternoon, according to National Weather Service predictions.
A.M. Services owner Mark Foster said mechanics at the company were working to make sure each of the companies' vehicles were in their best shape to tackle the work the company will face.
“It’s kind of a fun, exciting time for the first couple days and then it gets to be a grind,” he said. “There’s excitement about the snow for the first 24 hours and then it gets to be a bit of a slog as the snow keeps coming down and you think, ‘Hey, I’ve cleaned this lot five times!’”
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A.M. Services plows about 100 commercial parking lots and about 700 personal driveways, Foster said.
He said the company will be working around the clock to provide service and will have employees alternate shifts to keep them fresh. He said he’s been making arrangements at the company headquarters for employees to come in with a pillow and a blanket to take a nap if roads get too dangerous to drive.
Foster said he’s anticipating being so busy that he’s instructed his staff to stop taking on new customers.
“We make commitments to our current customer base and it gets more tricky in these big storms to get to them all,” he said. “So, we don’t want to confuse things by adding new customers.”
Unlike the snowstorm that hit the area in December, area residents can expect to see their power stay on through the duration, according to a DTE Energy spokesman.
Spokesman John Austerberry said the storm as currently forecast isn’t expected to cause too many problems with the company’s service. He said power lines can be affected by high winds and ice, or if heavy snow brings tree limbs down on power lines, but he didn't expect that to be a problem this week.
“Snow can’t really accumulate on our lines,” he said. “The only impact could be from interference from trees falling on them, but with the winds that are predicted and the temperatures, we’re not expecting to see that.”
About 5,000 DTE customers in Washtenaw County lost power during the December storm, and about 62,000 customers lost service in the entire DTE Energy coverage area. Austerberry said the moist snow and ice that occurred during that storm are not forecast for the system expected to hit today and Wednesday.
Austerberry said the majority of the company’s 2.1 million customers will experience no problems from the storm. He said the company has its own meteorologist and will be well aware of any changes in the forecast.
Kyle Feldscher covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com.
Comments
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Wed, Feb 2, 2011 : 1:27 a.m.
"A.M Services seems to understand the task of snow removal. It would be interesting to see their competitive bids for plowing what the city, and the county, currently plows." What a ridiculous statement--but not at all surprising. Yes, I'm certain that AM Services' ability to plow 800 driveways will means it can easily take up the task of plowing the 1649 miles of road for which the WCRC is responsible and the 294 miles of city streets in Ann Arbor. AM services might just get those roads plowed by mid-February--assuming there were no other snowstorms by then. See: <a href="http://www.wcroads.org/aboutus/AboutUs_index.htm" rel='nofollow'>http://www.wcroads.org/aboutus/AboutUs_index.htm</a> <a href="http://www.a2gov.org/government/publicservices/fieldoperations/Pages/StreetSnowPlowingStatus.aspx" rel='nofollow'>http://www.a2gov.org/government/publicservices/fieldoperations/Pages/StreetSnowPlowingStatus.aspx</a> Good Night and Good Luck
dexterreader
Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 2:46 p.m.
@Urban Sombrero ... I agree ... I think the road workers do an outstanding job and I would NOT want their job. Yes, the paycheck would be nice, but it still wouldn't be enough for me. There are advantages to mandated closings. Even the federal government shuts down when these kinds of storms hit the east coast. We've been lucky for the past several years around here .... all the big stuff seems like it has nailed the east coast.
jcj
Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 2:44 p.m.
@ Cash I find myself agreeing with you more and more these days. I think it would be a real eye opener to have a reporter with a camera ride along with a Wshtenaw County driver. These guys ( not aware of any women drivers for WCRC at this time) have to deal with many dangerous situations while working on our roads.
Ignatz
Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 1:37 p.m.
Cash, I'm with you about having the State calling a snow emergency. We The People should be able to madate that in the public interest.
dotdash
Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 1:23 p.m.
Thanks to everyone who gets out there and works in the cold and snow. I'm grateful.
Urban Sombrero
Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 1:02 p.m.
These guys work their tushes off and we're all lucky for that. I don't envy their work load, but I do envy that overtime-laden paycheck they'll be (rightfully) earning. Stay safe, everyone!
Cash
Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 11:48 a.m.
It would be great if the WCRC would allow a reporter to ride with a county road worker during a storm. They did that in Wayne County with WDIV and what an eye opener!! Their big issue are the morons out on the roads blocking their ability to do their jobs. You can't plow snow when cars are stuck on the highway, or lines of cars moving 20 mph are in front of you. It's beyond amazing how many people wait for the worst snowstorms and then go out for "coffee" etc.....just because they want to see what it's like out there. If road workers could just open up the engine and PLOW the roads could be cleared so much sooner. Personally I think this is where the state government should step in with an emergency alert asking all businesses except the obvious (hospitals etc) should CLOSE for the day Wednesday. The roads could be cleared so much faster. And then everyone could get out and move around.
AlphaAlpha
Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 11:32 a.m.
A.M Services seems to understand the task of snow removal. It would be interesting to see their competitive bids for plowing what the city, and the county, currently plows.