SE Kansas City News

As winter weather approaches, the City of Independence has outlined its plans for snow removal and related services for the week starting February 12. The city's strategy involves a three-stage process for clearing streets: priority roadways with high traffic volumes, secondary streets connecting to residential areas, and finally residential streets including cul-de-sacs and dead-ends.

Municipal Services staff will monitor weather conditions and deploy crews to treat roads as needed. "Crews are dispatched to priority routes once freezing rain, sleet, or snow begins to fall," ensuring that all driving lanes are plowed and treated. Secondary streets will be addressed next until they are passable, although some snow may remain on the surface. The entire process typically takes 12 to 24 hours after snowfall ends but can take longer under adverse conditions.

Residents are encouraged not to park on the street during forecasts of snow to facilitate plowing operations. If street parking is unavoidable, vehicles should be parked on one side only. Snow removal shifts operate around the clock during storms with crews working in 12-hour shifts.

For concerns about snow removal, residents can contact the SNOW Line at 816-325-SNOW. It is noted that some roads in Independence are maintained by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), including major highways like I-70 and US 40 Hwy.

The city advises residents to stay home if possible during severe weather to ensure safety for themselves and city workers such as road crews, police officers, and firefighters. Precautions against frozen pipes are also recommended due to dropping temperatures.

Independence Power & Light (IPL) is prepared for potential power outages with crews ready for deployment. Residents can report outages by calling IPL at (816) 325-7550.

Public transportation services like Paratransit and Independence IRIS may face delays or suspensions if road conditions worsen significantly.

Warming centers are available at locations such as Good Shepherd Community of Christ in Kansas City from February 13 onwards. While the City of Independence does not operate a warming center itself, facilities like the Sermon Center and local libraries serve this purpose during their business hours.

Residents are reminded that clearing driveways and sidewalks remains their responsibility. MoDOT provides guidance on minimizing snow accumulation in driveways through strategic shoveling techniques.

To stay informed about ongoing winter storm events and other updates from city departments, residents can follow official social media channels across various platforms including Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, and NextDoor.