Critical services ready to help as another winter storm blasts Iowa
Several critical services will remain available to Des Moines residents as the city braces for the week's second major winter storm.
Des Moines Fire/EMS
People are being advised to stay off the roads and stay inside. However, emergency medical services like the Des Moines Fire Department will be doing the opposite.
"It's 24 hours providing a service for the residents of our communities," firefighter Ahman Douglass said.
Douglass said they'll be responding to a lot of calls for cold exposure and slips and falls. He said first responders and vehicles are well-equipped to handle the weather and whatever else comes their way.
He said you can make their lives easier by doing one simple thing.
"If you have a fire hydrant in your yard or near your home, please help us out by shoveling that thing out," Douglass said.
CLOSINGS: See closings and delays for metro schools and businesses
Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority
DART will also be out on the roads, providing its bus services through the winter storm.
In a statement made to vlog, a spokesperson said:
DART plans to continue to provide bus services through the winter storm. However, all routes will likely experience significant delays. Delays of more than 20 minutes and weather-related detours on DART’s local routes will be posted about every 30-60 minutes during the storm at . Riders should also use the MyDART Trip Planner tool on the website or the app to find their bus in real-time along the route and to get updates on late arrival times. Bus Plus Paratransit riders who have scheduled non-critical trips are encouraged to reschedule trips for another day. With snow and cold windchills, DART encourages all riders to take precautions to stay safe and to follow updates on delays to minimize exposure to winter weather.
Shelters and warming centers
DART will be giving free rides to warming centers and shelters like Central Iowa Shelter and Services' Emergency Shelter in downtown Des Moines.
Melissa O'Neil, CEO of Central Iowa Shelter and Services, said it's just one example of how the city comes together in times like this.
"It's a total team effort by a whole slew of community partners," she said.
O'Neil said they currently have 239 people staying overnight in their emergency shelter. They are expecting 31 more to come through their doors in the next couple of days.
You can find a full list of hours on the
"It's cold enough outside and we want to make sure everyone's got a roof over their head and that they're safe and healthy to get through extreme weather events like what we're experiencing here now in Iowa," she said.
O'Neill said they're also looking for glove donations for people staying in the shelter.
Polk County has a list of dozens of on its website as well.
More winter storm coverage:
- Interactive Radar | Weather Alerts
- See which school districts are closed here
- Here's how to accurately measure snowfall
- Why to put a quarter on a frozen cup of water before losing power and more outage tips
- 8 snowstorm reminders your mom would want you to know
- Here’s how to make sure your phone provides severe weather alerts
- Explainer: How to be prepared for winter weather hazards
- Tips for keeping your house safe and warm during the cold weather