DES MOINES, Iowa — Forty snowplows from different Iowa companies traveled south to help cities facing unprecedented winter weather.

Colby’s Lawn & Landscaping from Clive is one of the companies that sent their crews to the South. This is their third week in a row traveling for work. So far, they’ve helped people in Arkansas, Kansas City, Wichita, Oklahoma City, Dallas, and they are now in Houston.

Executive Director, Rocky Dhaboldt, said this isn’t their first time traveling but this is the most his crews had to travel for work because of a lack of snowfall at home in Iowa.

Dhaboldt says his industry is at the mercy of the weather every winter. Therefore, he understands there is a massive risk to only relying on income received through snow removal. As a result, his company is prepared for dry winters because snow removal income goes towards buying new equipment or upgrades.

He says a lack of snow removal income may impact what they can do in the Spring, but it doesn’t keep them out of business. However, it’s ideal for them to find ways to help people in other parts of the country when Iowa is facing a dry winter.

Despite having to commute long hours to find work, Dhaboldt says there are benefits to travel. Profit margins are substantially higher because they charge more and because food, fuel, and lodging are covered for his crews.

However, the other benefit is getting to help those in need in cities that don’t have any salt or plow trucks.

“You get down to Texas where it doesn’t snow or ice or anything [and] you’re like a superhero there,” said Dhaboldt. “It just means a lot more to them than it does to the people here. So, it’s kind of cool to experience that.”

Half of Dhaboldt’s crews returned to Iowa overnight because of forecasted snow.