Costs Of Cold Weather

How much does a Winter event cost?

The Jefferson County Highway Department and the local municipalities have already hit the road this Winter in response to inclement weather. Though the services provided by those departments are critical to the safety of Jefferson County residents, the cost of maintaining safe roads can mount up in the Winter months. According to the Jefferson County Highway Department, the mild Winter of 2012 was a welcomed relief following a ferocious previous Winter. In December of 2010, the Jefferson County Highway Department logged in around 400 hours of overtime due to snowy conditions. Man hours are some of the greatest expenses during inclement weather.

The Jefferson County Highway Department purchases 50 tons of deicing salt annually, in preparation of the cold months. The deicing salt is then mixed to allow for more usage throughout the Winter. Due to the mild conditions of Winter 2012, some deicing product was still available for use this Winter. The cost impact of inclement weather depends greatly on timing. If roads can be pre treated during regular work hours, then the cost is significantly less than if crews must be called in during off hours to treat the roads. Likewise, the number of trucks that run and the amount of times that the road must be treated contribute to overall costs. Early warning of icy or snowy impending road conditions are optimal, however, in East Tennessee, weather is often unpredictable. The County and City Highway Departments must balance probability of inclement weather against availability of product. During sever Winters such as 2011, product availability becomes crucial and it is difficult to determine future need early in the season. The Jefferson County Highway Department is well situated for road needs this Winter and is ready to prepare the way when the call for Winter weather comes to Jefferson County.

Source: K. Depew, News Director