PRECIPITATION PREPARATION

Huntington, Marshall prepare for winter storm… part two

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Tyler Ferris

Buskirk Field quickly becomes Buskirk Lake Wednesday as the beginnings of Winter Storm Thor hit Huntington.

At the midpoint between winter storm Octavia and the first day of spring, Huntington found itself in the path of yet another winter storm.
Thor, not to be confused with the Norse God of Thunder, could dump up to 10 inches of snow on the already saturated community by Thursday afternoon, creating a slick situation for travelers, according to the National Weather Service.
Remnants of Octavia still remain, leaving a reminder of the chaos that several inches of snow can create.
According to a release from the city of Huntington, city workers are preparing for the storm.
The release said the city is divided into five zones spanning its limits. Each zone is assigned a plow truck with a salt spreader. A sixth truck will be utilized for school zones and as a backup if any of the trucks experience mechanical issues.
The Public Works Department prepared 800 tons of salt, 300 tons of cinders and one ton of calcium flakes for potential travel problems. Calcium flakes support the salt in low temperatures.
Marshall University also prepared for the worst.
Mark Cutlip, director of the Physical Plant, said the university has a standard procedure of prepping campus for winter storms.
The physical plant ensures they have an ample amount of salt and that all vehicles are fueled ahead of time.
Cutlip said workers come in at 6 a.m. to begin snow removal. In extreme cases, like Octavia or potentially Thor, they start at 5 a.m.
Tyler Ferris can be contacted at [email protected].