DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - It's all hands on deck for snow crews at the Macon County Highway Department and the Decatur Public Works Department. Both teams have been prepping their vehicles this week, making sure they will be fully operational for the snow set to fall in the next few days. 

"Whether it 9 to 11, 3 to 5, or 4 to 8 inches, we're going to be ready for it when it hits, said Robert Wagers, the Operation Supervisor for the Decatur Street Department. "We'll at least 20 people on each 12 hour shift. We'll have everybody on the street." 

Wagers said these rotating 12 hour shifts will continue until snow stops and roads are clear. The Department is taking on their first big snow with new trucks and are confident they will be able to clear roads in a timely matter. 

The Macon County Highway Department is responsible for clearing county roads, which includes many that connect outer towns like Maroa and Argenta to each other. 

Stuart Jacobs, the road supervisor for the Macon County Highway Department, said country roads bring an added difficulty to plowing. 

"That'll be our biggest issue out in the country is the wind blowing," said Jacobs. "Our guys a lot of times won't be able to see the snow plow in front of the truck, a lot of times the snow covers our mirrors and we can't see them." 

To help plows work efficiently, it's important to give them plenty of space and try to stay off the road during big snow storms. If you can't see the plow's mirrors, the driver can't see you. 

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