OMAHA, Neb. — It's finally starting to feel like a real Nebraska winter. Friday many parts of Eastern Nebraska will experience a wintry mess. The Nebraska Department of Transportation is preparing.
"Storms like that we have to throw everything at it. We treat it very seriously," Jim Laughlin with the Nebraska Department of Transportation said.
NDOT has already begun pre-treating roads with brine, salt and beet juice. Yes, beet juice.
"Salt really looses effectiveness at 15 degrees and once it drops below that we add beet juice to it," Laughlin said.
Later into the weekend freezing temperatures will follow the winter storm. This will create some serious slippery road conditions.
"When the weather is really bad think about if you really need to go," Laughlin added.
And with all this winter weather, homless shelters are doing what they can to help the less fortunate. Open Door Mission is expecting an influx of people even though they're already at capacity. This influx however, is not stopping their efforts.
"This is a Cold Blue situation what we call here at the Open Door Mission. Not Code Blue but Cold Blue," CEO and President Candace Gregory said.
Cold Blue is when the shelter becomes proactive and adds supplies and effort on cold winter days.
"It just means that we have to put another mat out, set another place at the table. You just have to stretch your dollars to meet the needs," Gregory said.
To help volunteer or to donate during this busy winter season you can visit the Open Door Mission website.
Stay tuned to KMTV for the latest weather forecast.
