Sheridan snowplows help New Orleans battle historic snowfall

By CAT SANDOVAL
WISH-TV | wishtv.com

New Orleans saw a historical record-breaking snow this past week, with some areas being hit with as much as 10 to 12 inches.

But help is on the way! Fourteen Hoosier snowplow trucks have taken to the Big Easy to help clear the snow, and they brought their salt along with them!

At the center is Sheridan-based snow company Sherco Group, formerly Sherley Snow Removal. The company and their freelancers are tasked with historical snow removal.

The last time New Orleans saw snow of this magnitude was in 1895.

“It kind of seemed surreal knowing I’m driving the plow truck to chase a winter storm,” Levi Jett, a snow industry consultant for Sherco, said.

Jett is currently in New Orleans and said the snowplows from Indiana have already cleared snow at the airport, as well as bridges and high traffic areas. They also helped clear paths for hospitals and emergency responders.

“Today we’ve been asked to plow the Causeway Bridge, which is the largest bridge in America at 26 miles,” Jett said.

According to Ashley Pettit-Godbey, Sherco’s office manager, clearing the snow has created fans.

“A lot of the guys noticed a lot of people standing outside the roads waving and are so excited and are thanking them for what they’re doing. The tireless sleepless nights, it all makes up for it in the end,” she said.

There is still a lot of snow removal work to be done. Because the roads are untreated, Pettit-Godbey says the snow sticks easily. The snowpacks as more vehicles drive through it and it making it harder to plow.

But that’s not the only obstacle.

Derek Delph is snowplow operator who will be making a trip to New Orleans. He says he’s taking additional plows along with him because some are breaking due to uneven roads. “I think their manhole covers are a couple of inches above ground,” he said.

The plow drivers intend to stay till the end of the week, but they also want to reassure Sheridan residents that they haven’t forgotten them this winter season.

“Anybody that’s up in Sheridan that’s uneasy at seeing part of their snow contractor go to New Orleans, don’t be, because we have plenty of people on reserve,” Jett said.

The city is expecting an additional 15 to 20 more trucks from Indiana to help.

This story was originally published by WISH-TV at wishtv.com/news/local-news/indiana-response-snow-new-orleans.