DURHAM, N.C. — City road crews throughout the Triangle area are preparing for the first snowflakes of 2002.

Durham's Public Works Department has been monitoring the weather situation non-stop. Nearly two dozen snow plows are ready to go.

They also have 600 tons each of sand and salt that they will be putting on the roads as soon as the first flakes start falling.

"I feel pretty confident we'll be able to handle any situation thrust upon us," said worker Peter Dorazio.

The city is responsible for more than 600 miles of roads.

Snow flakes started falling in Fayetteville at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. Road crews in the Crown City claim they are ready.

"We'll have eight crews that we'll be able to send. We have 10 snowplows that will have good capability if we need to plow," said Robert Bracefoot, who works with the city's Maintenance Division.

The Maintenance Division will use snowplows if accumulation reaches at least four inches.

"It's a very serious business. What we try to do is get the roads open," Bracefoot said.