The Transportation Department’s Southeast Missouri District has over 15-hundred tons of salt and 72 plow trucks ready for use this winter.

 The first minor storm Monday tested their response.  Officials checked out all of their equipment and completed routine maintenance in late October to be ready for any winter event beginning November 1.

Maintenance Supervisor Mike Belt says they use a multi-faceted attack to make sure roads are clear and safe.

Belt says they’ve been able to adapt to recent personnel cutbacks and less money by using better chemicals and utilizing trained office staff for snow removal as part of their team. 

Michael Yetman of affiliate KZIM contributed to this report.