GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Emergency first responders and tow truck companies will be out on the roads in full force this weekend, but they're urging the rest of you to stay home if at all possible.
The Greensboro Fire Department says preparations have been underway all week.
"We expect more accidents, and we will be analyzing the date we got up here," Dwayne Church of the Greensboro Fire Department said. "Also we’ll be analyzing the date from Emergency Operation Center and have people staffing that location from the fire department."
WFMY News 2 called many triad tow truck companies, most said they are expecting more of the same: a busy weekend with, unfortunately, a lot of accidents.
"We have quite a few drivers on call, I'm sure we’re going to be working some overtime all through the night Saturday and Sunday," Recovery Operator Garland Owens said. He works for the tow truck company Regional Auto Center in Greensboro.
Owens says they work with local law enforcement to clear crashes.
"We work with the Greensboro Police Department and State Highway Patrol when they call us, we have a certain amount of time to get on scene and you know, they keep us busy."
Regional Auto Center will have an extra driver on staff for each shift this weekend, and several on standby in case things get really hectic.
The Greensboro Fire Department wants everyone to stay off the roads unless it is absolutely necessary.
"We ask residents of the Triad to be patient with us, and if at all possible, stay inside and stay off of those roads."
The Fire Department will be putting tire chains on their trucks to drive in the snow, and it will delay emergency response times. The department asks for your patience and understanding in weather events.
"Especially in weather like this, we anticipate to see a higher rate of vehicle accidents on the road, it will take us longer to get to those accidents because if we do apply those chains to the tires we can no longer go very fast, we can only go up to 30 miles per hour."
Emergency crews will do their utmost to get to you if you find yourself in trouble this weekend.
"We know our dispatch times will be consistent, the time it takes to get on the trucks will be consistent, it’ll be just those travel times taking us a little longer to get to those emergencies."
The Greensboro Fire Department says the Emergency Operations Center will activate this weekend. Staff from all Guilford County emergency departments will be there tracking the weather, and the problems it'll cause.