Watch How Portland, Maine Gets Cleaned Up After a Snow Storm

Portland, Maine, called its first parking ban for the snow. Watch how the city cleans up after a storm.

The Maine Monitor followed a crew from the Public Works Department for the City of Portland after an 18-inch snowstorm a few years back. It really is quite the operation.

READ MORE: The One Essential Tool to Survive a Maine Winter

We have a few snowplow drivers (men and women) who are listeners. Every storm, they try to remind people that they are just doing their job and to give them some room and patience. Take it from anybody from the north who happened to be south when they got 5 inches of snow and it shut everything down. What Portland does when it snows is impressive, to say the least.

Snow removal in Portland, Maine is a two-phase process

Phase one is about 40 plow trucks hitting all parts of Portland. Portland, Maine is a unique city with some challenges as the city spokesperson Jessica Grondin told The Maine Monitor,

...old streets, narrow streets - especially here in the Old Port, East End, West End...it's not easy to get around.

City snowplow driver Gerald 'Jay' Gilbert said that for those 16-hour shifts, the radio is your best friend. 'It keeps you sane for a 16-hour shift'. I know that for sure as 'Matt and Sandy From Phillips' has us tuned in quite a bit.

Phase two is they have to move all that snow out of the city.

Watch 11,000 cubic yards of snow get removed from the City of Portland, Maine

One of the biggest complaints is when they must tow cars that don't follow the parking ban. They don't want to tow or fine you, but they can't get the snow unless you move. So, hopefully, you were able to get your car off the streets. Thursday night was our first parking ban of the season...I can't imagine it will be our last.

Thank you, Portland, Maine for all you do to get that pesky snow out of our way.