Odot, Aes Ohio prepares when freezing rain moves into Miami Valley

With winter weather moving over the Miami Valley, the Ohio Department of Transportation and Aes Ohio shares their plan to keep the community safe Wednesday night on Thursday morning.

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News Center 7S Mason Fletcher talked to Loryn Bryson, who works for Odot, and Aes Ohio Communications Director Mary Ann Kabel about their plans live at News Center 7 at. 11.

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Originally, Odot should not pre -treat roads, but when new numbers came in during the last 24 hours, they changed their plan.

Trucks have been out since in the afternoon of putting a saline solution, a mixture of salt and water to prevent roads from freezing.

“Typically, it is 80 percent water to 20 percent salt. We mix it here in the house and then we are able to load directly and refill as needed, ”Bryson said.

Each truck has 5,000 gallons, according to Bryson.

“As soon as the ice starts to hit the ground, it immediately begins to melt,” Bryson said. “So it’s a little easier on our roads.”

Bryson says there are 23 trucks monitoring 23 routes with tankers focusing on the intermediate state.

“We operate on a full crew. We have to run a full crew through midnight and we bring in our overnight crews and we are out as long as necessary, ”Bryson said.

Even with Odots Preps, it’s important to take it easy on the roads, which is exactly what Dayton -resident Latoya Sims plans to do. “I just make sure I drive slowly, drive with care and make sure I keep a distance behind the car and similar things,” Sims said.

ICE can present several problems, especially to power leading workers, according to Aes Ohio Communications Director Mary Ann Kabel.

“This ice cream does not only accumulate on our power lines, but on the woods, and these tree branches, depending on the weight, because ice is heavy could fall on our power lines,” Kabel said.

Cable says their crews are fully manned and ready for whatever could bring.

“We are fully equipped to recover the power quickly and safely,” Kabel said.

As regards power cuts, cable says they are not out of the question.

“We are always prepared and customers must also prepare,” Kabel said.

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