Discover Kansas City’s strategy for tackling winter and ensuring community safety during snow season.
Snow Team Equipped, Cold Weather Shelter Opening
Kansas City is fully prepared for winter snow.
Kansas City’s Snow Team is comprised of employees from multiple City departments who will cover all plow routes 24 hours per day during snow events until the roads are clear. Kansas City has over 300 trucks available to clear all 6,400 lane miles across 103 routes, and over 400 employees are Snow Team trained – ready to work around the clock to keep Kansas City moving.
Salt domes are stocked with a total of 40,000 tons of salt, 8,000 tons of Ice Ban, and 36,000 gallons of liquid magnesium chloride before the season even begins, with an additional 10,000 tons of salt and Ice Ban in reserve ready to be delivered as needed.
The City hosts training for all drivers in October to ensure employees can safely operate vehicles and utilize the internal plow tracking system. Training includes classroom work, as well as hands-on driving teaching drivers to maneuver safely through our streets.
The state-of-the-art Snow Command Center is equipped with custom routing technology and staffed 24 hours per day during winter weather to provide snowplow driver support throughout each shift. Snow Command supervises operations and resident requests during snowstorms, with technology to help the Snow Team address slick spots reported through 3-1-1 during post snowfall cleanup.
Kansas City snow removal plan:
Primary and residential streets are plowed 24 hours per day until the roads are clear.
All residential streets are plowed curb to curb instead of a “single pass” as was the past practice.
Aggressive pre-treating of all roads before storms.
A new blue salt called “Ice Ban” (magnesium chloride), works better at lower temperatures than standard calcium chloride and is less harmful to the environment.
Tandem plowing is used on wide, multi-lane, arterial streets with multiple trucks to efficiently clear streets on the first pass.
Trash and recycling services are suspended during big storms to redirect resources to the Snow Team and reduce the number of other vehicles on the road.
Plow tracking technology and digital plow route management software ensures accountability, efficiency, and safety for all drivers.
Added 50 trucks and 100 drivers to the fleet in the first year of the new plan with more drivers and trucks added each year.
Residents can track the City’s progress on snow removal throughout each weather event through the Snowplow Map. There is a color key letting residents see how much time has passed since each road was plowed.
Be Prepared
Winter storms may housebound us, knock out the power, or worse, strand us in our vehicles. Stay prepared with an emergency kit for your car, work, and home to avoid anxiety, discomfort, and even danger. Repair water leaks and protect water pipes before the temperature drops to avoid an emergency situation. Be informed before the storm so you have a plan.
Snow Angels Program
Kansas City is launching a new program for the 2024-2025 snow season. Our “Snow Angels” will be a group of volunteers who set out to help our most vulnerable population of residents with mobility challenges that are unable to clear their driveway and sidewalks. Anyone interested in becoming a Snow Angel can sign up today! Register to be a Snow Angel
Snow Angels and residents will be matched based on proximity. When the first snowfall comes with at least two (2) inches of accumulation, the resident can contact the Neighborhoods Services Department to schedule service by their Snow Angel.
Residents with mobility challenges interested in requesting services by Snow Angels will be able to do so in the coming weeks.
Zero KC Cold Weather Plan
For the third year in a row, the City is taking a standardized approach with cold weather shelters by collaborating with agencies for a cohesive response and to connect people to resources including inpatient treatment, vital document assistance, low-income housing, transitional living, and other services needed to help achieve housing goals.
Zero KC has a shelter activation plan with four (4) levels:
Partner Shelter Operators:
Level 1: Hope Faith, True Light, Unity Southeast, and Hope City
Level 2: Level 1 Operators + Shelter KC, and City Union Mission
Level 3: Level 1 & 2 + A Turning Point
Mental Health: Wyandot Behavioral Health Network and Rediscover
Data & Tech: Simtech Solutions – Show the Way
Transitional Living Support: Healing House
Trafficking Support: Relentless Pursuit Outreach and Recovery
Medical Care: Care Beyond the Boulevard
For more information on Kansas City’s snow plan visit KCMO.gov/snow. Learn how to be prepared and use the Snowplow Map to track plows during a snow event.
#KansasCityWinter #SnowSeasonReady #CommunitySafety
