While it's important to have stockpiles full, equipment repaired and ready, and staff training and assignments set, it's important to have your home weather ready as well. After all, when you're out there battling the weather, there's peace of mind knowing that your own home and family are safe and sound. On this episode we're Talkin' Winter Ops with Jake Sorber, Research Project Scientist with the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. Jake highlights the work of the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) in helping homeowners prepare for winter weather and take proactive steps to reduce risks and avoid costly repairs.

For additional ways to protect your home from harsh winter conditions, you can find a full checklist at ibhs.org/winter-ready/ to help you get started.

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The Pacific Northwest Snowfighters Association will be holding their biannual conference for winter maintenance professionals and practitioners May 2026 in Spokane, Washington. This best in the west winter operations conference is a perfect time for exchanging ideas with your peers, finding out the latest and greatest in winter maintenance operations research, and interacting with vendors and suppliers.

On this bonus episode James Morin of the Washington DOT is going to give you the inside scoop on this conference and why it's important for you to check it out. More info and links to register for this conference can be found on the PNS website https://pnsassociation.org/

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From that moment the very first engineering project was completed the age of maintenance began. While the initial delivery of the public work carries a lot of fanfare nothing is more important than keeping it functional and in service. Maintenance organizations have been intrusted to manage every aspect of those assets since before Asset Management was a thing. From mowing and debris pickup to restoring mobility after the blizzard of flood, it's all important. George Conner, Deputy Director of Maintenance and Operations at the Alabama DOT and Chair of AASHTOs Maintenance Committee says if you don't think it's important just stop doing it and see how important it is to the users.

George has a huge passion for maintenance and on this episode he shares his insights and perspective on maintenance and the folks that keep the highway network clean, repaired and functional 24/7/365.

Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com

Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!