City Crews, Residents Preparing For Wild Round Of Winter Weather

Oklahoma cities are gearing up to salt the roadways, state agencies are on high alert, and residents are stocking up ahead of the winter storm.

De-icers, windshield scrapers and antifreeze are selling like crazy, along with the grocery necessities.

"[I'm] getting stuff for the next three days so I can stay in my house and keep warm and eat whatever I want to eat," Charlotte Angel of Edmond said.

Grocery stores have been preparing for the rush.

"The weatherman is our friend," joked Crest Foods manager Mario Baca Junior. "It's been crazy all day long, the past two days, and we're doing everything we can to stay ahead of it."

12/4/2013 Related Story: Winter Storm Warning In Effect For Large Portion Of Oklahoma

Many residents said they are shopping now to avoid traveling at all once the storm hits.

"So we won't have to get out on the ice and jeopardize ourselves or other people," said Edmond resident Wilma Moore.

At retail stores such as Academy, winter coats, hats, gloves and boots are in high demand and store managers are constantly restocking Hot Hands.

News 9 weather page

Oklahoma City has stocked up on 7,100 tons of salt. Starting at midnight, all of its 30-plus salt trucks will begin pretreating bridges and overpasses. Starting at noon on Thursday, city truck crews will work in 12-hour shifts.

"Remember to give yourself enough distance and let them do their job so the streets are safer," advised Oklahoma City Public Works spokesperson Shannon Cox.

The Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief team said it has staged across the state and is on standby. It has more than 5,000 trained volunteers who can help out with debris clean up, food service, laundry and childcare.