With projections ranging anywhere from 8-18 inches, exactly just how much snow the area receives today is anyone’s guess.

But, one thing that is certain is the cleanup that will follow in the wake of the storm will be immense, not only for road crews, but homeowners and businesses as well.

Sean Brown, PennDOT spokesman, said there is plenty of cleanup material to go around.

Per contract, their vendors are required to refill them with salt or antiskid material.

After the last storm, “We did inventory of any materials we needed, checked out equipment, plows, blades, tires to make sure they’re in good shape.”

“Budget-wise, it’s our job when winter storms come, we have to plow roads, we have to salt,” Brown said. “We wouldn’t skimp on winter services.”

Budgeting for the storm

While today’s storm figures to be a real doozy, before today’s storm, local municipalities say they’re prepared to do whatever needs to be done.

Tamaqua Borough Manager Kevin Steigerwalt said, “We haven’t really had to do much storm removal this year because the storms we’ve had, the weather conditions improved shortly after, and Mother Nature sort of took care of the snow for us, so that was a big help,” Steigerwalt said.

“We are using salt and antiskid material probably a little above the average amount that we would use for the winter season, but, overall, I’d say we’re pretty well on track as far as our budget is concerned.”

Steigerwalt added, “This winter hasn’t been a horrible winter, I’d say it’s probably been about average, which is what we budget for.”

“We look at historically what we spend, and we try to budget for an average winter season,” he said. “It hasn’t been terrible, but it hasn’t been terrific either. We’re doing OK.”

It’s been much the same in Palmerton, where the borough was in solid shape, according to borough Manager Rodger Danielson.

“Budget-wise, we’re fine,” Danielson said. “We haven’t had any real serious issues.”

Danielson said the borough has only had to have one or two small cleanups on Delaware Avenue.

“We’ve been putting out some salt and cinders, but are still within our normal use on this,” he said. “It’s been a fairly mild winter, nothing extreme or extraordinary.”

Jim Thorpe Borough Manager Maureen Sterner said the borough was in fine shape as well.

“We’re doing OK,” Sterner said. “The supplies, we have spent less than half of what we’ve budgeted, overtime is not over budget.”

Sterner said the borough tends to make sure it budgets winter for the worst-case scenarios.

“It’s easier to be able to spend some excess funds in the summer then it is to try to find excess funds for the winter,” she said.

Lehighton Borough treasurer Cathy Smith said that right now, the borough’s budget “has not been significantly affected by this winter’s storms.”

“We are still within our budget,” Smith said.

Snow cleanup

The heaviest snows are expected to fall during much of the daytime. In anticipation, PennDOT is moving 20 plow trucks and two graders along with 46 employees to address any issues on Interstates 80, 380, and Route 33 in Monroe County and the Lehigh Valley. The crews are being moved from western Pennsylvania to assist in this storm response.

Also, two heavy duty tow trucks are being positioned along Interstate 84 in Pike County and one heavy duty tow truck in each of Luzerne and Lackawanna counties to deal with any issues on Interstates 80 and 81.

“I cannot stress enough the importance for everyone to heed weather forecasts, listen to directions from emergency officials, and plan accordingly,” Gov. Tom Wolf said.

If traveling during severe winter weather, motorists should make sure their gas tank is full and they pack an emergency kit, which should include nonperishable food, water, blanket, small shovel, and warm clothes. Remember also any special needs, such as baby food, pet supplies or medications.

At Giant Food Stores in Lehighton, customers packed the parking lot to stock up on their last-minute wares.

Jean Everett of Mahoning Valley was among them.

“I really didn’t want to, but we’re making filling at our church,” Everett said. “Definitely avoiding coming out tomorrow.”