Winter Weather Guide

Winter and severe weather information for the City of Crete, NE.

Emergency Snow Routes - City of Crete: There is no parking on marked emergency snow routes when a snow emergency has been declared.

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Winter and severe weather information for the City of Crete, NE.

City of Crete personnel across multiple departments are tasked with services in preparation for, during, and after winter weather events.

Non-emergency numbers

• Police Department (24 hours) - 402.826.4311
• Public Works Department - 402.826.4312
  • Calls after regular business hours will be directed to an answering service and relayed to on-call personnel.

Emergency alerts

• Sign up for emergency alerts from two alert systems used by local emergency management and the dispatch center.

Electrical and street issues

• To report power outages, problems with electrical service, street issues (including fallen branches on streets) and other concerns, please call Public Works, 402.826.4312
• Snow is removed according to the city’s approved snow plan, which takes into account emergency snow routes, arterial streets, weather forecast, and current conditions.
• The Street Department uses a salt brine pretreatment on priority streets if conditions allow before a forecasted winter weather event. Rainfall during this process can wash away the brine or make it ineffective. Salting/sanding streets remains part of the department’s practice during winter weather.
• Street Department crews may push snow to the middle of downtown streets for removal with an industrial snowblower.

Clear snow and ice five feet from around fire hydrants.

City of Crete parking regulations state vehicles parked on public streets and roadways must be moved every 24 hours.

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Clear snow and ice five feet from around fire hydrants.

• Keep snow and ice 5 feet away from fire hydrants for access during an emergency. 
• Property owners in the business district are responsible for snow removal on sidewalks in the business district within 5 hours after accumulation ends and by 8:30 a.m. if snow falls overnight.
• In residential areas, residents are responsible for clearing their sidewalks within 24 hours after accumulation ends.
• City Code, Chapter 8, Article 2 

Snow Removal Permit - Commercial

• A city permit is needed to move snow in city right-of-way. Find this permit online or at the City Hall Utility Office, ground floor.
• It is against city code to push snow off private property onto city right-of-way. Citations can be issued.

Emergency Snow Routes

• After a significant snow event, three or more inches of accumulation, the city may declare a Snow Emergency. A Snow Emergency announcement would be made on the city's social media accounts (@CreteNE), this website, and local news.
• During a Snow Emergency parking along marked Emergency Snow Routes is prohibited and vehicles in violation will be towed.
• If a vehicle was towed during a snow emergency or for other parking violations it may be claimed from the towing company once the fees are paid at the police station.
• The city has marked Emergency Snow Routes on arterial streets including: Highway 33/103, Hawthorne, Boswell, Iris, and Main Avenues;  East 1st, East 4th, East 5th, East 9th, East 14th, East 15th, and East 29th Streets; others include Betten Drive., the entire downtown area and streets around Crete Elementary school. City Code, Chapter 5, Article 2
• view larger pdf or go to the online map and select 'Emergency Snow Routes' under the Layers tab)

Garbage and recycling collection

• If severe weather conditions warrant a stoppage or delay in garbage or recycling collection, the city will make efforts to notify customers through social media and the city website.

Official city social media accounts are on Facebook and Twitter.

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Official city social media accounts are on Facebook and Twitter.

• 24-hour Parking & Downtown Parking:
  • Vehicles cannot remain parked on streets, public roads or public property for more than 24 hours at a time.
  • Parking is prohibited in the downtown area between 2-4 a.m.; these areas are marked with signs.
  • Vehicles parked in violation of these ordinances are subject to tickets and towing. (City Code, Chapter 5, Article 4)
• Any vehicle cited for parking violations three times within 30 days may be towed on the issuance of the third ticket.
• Parking tickets and fees are paid at the City Clerk's Office at City Hall, 243 East 13th Street, during regular business hours (Monday to Friday, 8 -11 a.m. and 12 -5 p.m.) If a vehicle was towed during a snow emergency or for other parking violations, it may be claimed from the towing company once the fees are paid at the Crete Police Station, 1945 Forest Ave.