Lots of Central Nebraska Communities declared snow emergencies Friday night, including Grand Island.

The Nebraska Department of Roads and City crews are asking for your help in keeping snow emergency routes in these communities safe.

Snow emergency routes and there for the unexpected.

NDOR Highway Maintenance Supervisor Scott Randall says they are there for things like medical reasons and accidents.

But, when the city is in a snow emergency, the rules of these routes change.

"It's kind of hard to to clean the road when you've got so much traffic you can't get your work done," Highway Maintenance Worker Daryl Lutes said.

That's why the Nebraska Department of Roads is asking for a little extra help in ensuring that Grand Island's snow emergency routes get and stay clear.

"If they could stay back 300 of 400 feet, there is salt and sand being thrown out the back of the trucks," Randall said.

That salt and sand is hitting Interstate-80 and roads like Highway 281 and Highway 34. Those are the areas that the department services first.

They are deemed emergency snow routes.

The City of Grand Island also plows. It has a seperate list of streets that are considered first priority.

In either case, drivers must move cars that are parked along these routes.

Aside from relocating these parked vehicles, NDOR recommends that drivers just stay off the roads entirely.

"If people would just slow down and be careful and stay home when they can, stay off the road, that would help," Lutes said.

Randall agreed. "If you don't have to go anywhere, don't. Stay home. It'll make our job a little easier.