Severe weather never happens at a convenient time.  Fortunately there are several people out working to make sure we can go about our days and nights as safely as possible.

However, Dallas County Engineer Al Miller says it’s important for people to know they don’t have the staff to be on call 24 hours a day.

“Typically our hours are (5am to 5pm), if we have a storm we have some folks that are on call and probably out checking the roads at two in the morning.  The Iowa (Department of Transportation) is 24/7.  So when we do get a storm, drive safety and give yourself extra time but do find a state route if you have to go somewhere (on the weekends or outside normal hours).  You’re going to be seeing (DOT employees) out on the highway in the evenings, where you wouldn’t see us out unless we have an emergency.”

The Dallas County roads department employs 45 people and maintains around 900 miles of roadway throughout the County.