Inside Look: Joplin snow plow crews and how they prepare

JOPLIN, Mo. — Snow plow drivers have been out in force Friday morning, making sure drivers can safely get to their destinations.

While most of us were still asleep, Martin Bland with the Joplin Special Road District was getting his day started.

"Four AM this morning," said Bland.

For the past 15 years, Bland has worked for the Joplin Special Road District, and on days like Friday, he's out plowing and spreading a mixture on Joplin area roads.

"We use cinders, and we also apply some salt brine to it as it's coming out the back. It will saturate it, and then that will help it kind of stick to the road better, kind of melt the ice and snow faster."

The district works to maintain nearly 300 square miles of road to make them safer to travel, especially for motorists who don't have the option to stay home for the day.

They also clear parking lots for first responders, like in Redings Mill.

Bland says they started their work Thursday, before the snow started to fall.

And he says 12 to 15-hour days like this one are common this time of year.

"Yeah, we worked all day yesterday to get ready for the storm, got the equipment ready, and then we also pretreated the roads with brine, salt brine, ahead of the storm," said Bland.