The snow is here

Started snowing around 1:00 pm here. 
I'll head over to the firehouse shortly.  Last night we did some equipment preps.  That included putting chains on all 6 wheels of our deuce-and-a-half that we use as a brush truck.  It carries 600 gallons of water and has a 500gpm pump.  It's not much water if we have to respond to a structure fire, but it might give us a little time to get something else there.  Also chained the 1500 gal tanker.  This afternoon will entail chaining both rear axles on the engine tanker and  both front and rear of the utility truck; a Ford 250 with a utility bed and plow.  Also got the snowthrower that was donated to us a couple of years ago dusted off and started.  We are about as prepared for this storm as we can be.  A number of members have committed to staying for the weekend for staffing. 

I've had the dispatching pager open for awhile.  It's been pretty quiet across the county so far.  Hopefully it will stay that way.  I've responded on calls in previous years during snow storms.  Its just a wee-bit nerve wracking trying to be expeditious but maintain a safe speed driving a 60,000 lb truck when you really can't tell where the road is.