Ready or not

A week’s worth of preparations preceded today’s snowstorm, which promises to again challenge public works crews, power companies and the postal service.

The Waynesboro Post Office is pulling out all the stops to carry mail today including the use of an emergency generator to keep lights on at the headquarters and special gear on delivery truck tires and heavier clothing for mail carriers.

Trucks have been prepared for more plowing of snow and crews for Dominion Virginia Power will be mobilized this morning when the snow starts, said Le-Ha Anderson, Dominion Virginia Power spokeswoman.

The National Weather Service is saying that a storm of 20 to 28 inches should start about 8 this morning and continue until late Saturday night.

Waynesboro Director of Emergency Management Gary Critzer said preparations started early in the week.

“Public works has been trying to get the last snowfall out of the way and has been diligently working on getting trucks back in shape,’’ Critzer said. “We’re in a preparedness mode and making sure our public safety folks are on alert.”

An emergency shelter that can accommodate hundreds is on standby at Kate Collins Middle School and would be opened if necessary, Critzer said. The shelter is equipped with emergency power.

VDOT Staunton Spokeswoman Sandy Myers said salt was still on many roads from earlier storms.

She said VDOT’s goal is to plow all interstate, primary and secondary roads in the area at least once within 48 hours of the storm.

VDOT will work on Interstate 64 but will have a contractor plowing Interstate 81. “It looks to be a 24-hour operation,’’ Myers said. “People will be busy after the weather leaves the area.”

Statewide, VDOT announced Thursday that it has now tapped into emergency maintenance reserve funds to pay for snow removal.

Once that $25 million fund is exhausted, VDOT will move money from non-safety-related maintenance programs to cover additional snow removal needs this winter.

In Staunton, the city declared a snow removal emergency and prohibited parking on several streets beginning Thursday afternoon.

Those streets include Beverley Street from Lewis to Market; Central Avenue from Frederick to Johnson; New Street from Frederick to Johnson; Market Street from Frederick to Kalorama and Byers Stret from Lewis to Johnson.

Anderson said the potential for power outages is a concern because of the wetter nature of this weekend’s snowstorm.

She said a wetter snow weighs heavily on trees and power lines.

AccuWeather reports that the storm could knock down power lines in Virginia, northwestern North Carolina, parts of Kentucky and the lower Delmarva Peninsula.

Mail will be delivered today and tomorrow despite an accumulation of snow that could approach two feet. Waynesboro Postmaster Matthew Hoffman said the local post office is equipped with an emergency generator to keep power on.

Cables will be on the tires of mail delivery trucks and all mail carriers will be equipped with snow gear such as boots, jackets, gloves and caps that will enable them to deal with the snow.