Announcement

Ocean Pines Public Works: Unsung heroes of winter storms

Friday, February 14, 2025

(Feb. 14, 2025) When the first snowflakes fall in Ocean Pines, most residents cozy up indoors, watching the world turn white from the comfort of their homes.

But for the Ocean Pines Public Works team, snowfall marks the start of long, grueling shifts battling the elements to keep roads safe and passable.

“It all depends on the storm,” Tony Howard, a veteran member of the Public Works crew, said. “This last one was about 12 hours, but sometimes we’re out for 24 hours straight or longer.”

Howard, alongside fellow crew member CJ Rounds, is no stranger to these intense shifts. Their work begins long before the first flake touches the ground.

Preparing for the Worst

“The day before a storm, we start loading up equipment, checking everything to make sure it’s running,” Rounds said. “We fill the spreaders and pretreat the roads as much as we can.”

This winter alone, Public Works crews have tackled four snowstorms, often working overnight shifts.

Two of those required plowing 80 miles of road, plus clearing parking lots for essential facilities, including the police department, administration offices, community center, fire stations, the Sports Core Pool, and the Yacht and Golf Club. Two others requiring only salting.

To improve road treatment, Ocean Pines is exploring the use of a brine mix – a liquid solution that prevents snow and ice from bonding to pavement.

“You’ve probably seen the white stripes on the road,” Howard said. “That’s the brine. It stays put better than salt and helps keep roads from icing over – unless it rains first and washes it away.”

Before a big storm, Public Works preps its fleet, which includes six plows, three salt spreaders, and four additional heavy equipment vehicles. Crews also stock their offices with enough food and strong coffee to last up to 40 hours – the time it sometimes takes to fully clear the roads.

The equipment lineup features three one-ton dump trucks equipped with salt spreaders and plows, another dump truck with a plow, two pickup trucks with plows, a backhoe, a track loader, and another loader known as “Manitou.”

The Long Haul

Once the snow starts falling, the team settles in for a long night. Howard drinks coffee, while Rounds prefers tea.

“Either way, you just keep going,” Howard said.

Both said their bosses, Senior Director Eddie Wells and Deputy Director Nobie Violante, are right there with them.

“Eddie’s out there with us, him and Nobie,” Howard said. “Whatever hours we put in, they’re right there until the end.”

Plowing is a strategic operation requiring coordination.

“We start with the entrances – Ocean Parkway, Manklin, and Cathell Road – and then work our way out,” Howard said. “Two trucks handle the main roads, while smaller trucks tackle side streets.”

But the job isn’t without challenges.

“The hardest part isn’t the snow – it’s the parked cars,” Rounds said. “People leave them at the end of their driveways, and we can’t get through. We have to swerve around them, leaving piles of snow behind. That’s usually when people call and complain.”

Cul-de-sacs also present difficulties.

“Ideally, we’d clear them completely,” Howard said. “But when cars are in the way, we have no choice but to leave some snow behind.”

A Cut Above the Rest

Many residents notice the difference in road conditions compared to surrounding areas.

“Ocean Pines takes care of all the roads – not just the main ones,” Rounds said. “Other places might plow the big streets and leave secondary roads alone. We make sure people can get out no matter where they live.”

Still, patience is key.

“People look outside and wonder why their road isn’t plowed yet,” Howard said. “There are over 80 miles of roads here. We get to them all, but it does take time.”

The Science Behind the Salt

Wells said no two storms are alike, and each requires a different strategy.

“This last event was a wet, heavy snow followed by rain, so we didn’t need to salt because temperatures stayed above freezing,” he said. “But we did have more tree branches down due to the snow’s weight, and that required additional cleanup and man hours.”

“The storm on Jan. 6-7 was drier and colder, so we had to plow and salt. That took longer to get the roads fully clear,” Wells added.

Salt effectiveness depends on temperature. Above 20°F, it melts ice efficiently, but at 15°F and below, it slows down. By 10°F, road salt becomes nearly useless, often requiring additional chemicals. At 0°F, it stops working entirely.

“We pretreat when we know it’ll be an all-snow event,” Wells said. “But most storms here start as rain, which washes away pre-treatment. We salt all main roads after plowing if temperatures are expected to dip below freezing.”

The Aftermath

Once the snow stops, the team’s work isn’t over.

“After plowing, we still have to clean the equipment, fix any damage, and start picking up fallen branches,” Howard said. “And then, hopefully, we don’t get hit with another storm right away.”

Despite the long hours and brutal conditions, neither Howard nor Rounds complains.

“It’s got to be done,” Rounds said. “Somebody’s got to do it. We just wait for the call, and then we go.”

For Ocean Pines residents, that dedication is why their roads stay clear when winter hits.

So, the next time you see a plow rolling down the street, remember the team inside – running on coffee, tea, and an unwavering commitment to keeping the community safe.

Announcement

Ocean Pines Public Works: Unsung heroes of winter storms

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