A light snowfall in Houston on December 4 has employees with the Houston Airport System (HAS) dealing with a rarity in these parts.

“I would say right now it could be anywhere from snow flurries to some accumulation,” said Robert Van Hoven, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, on Wednesday afternoon. “We might get some accumulation, there's no doubt about that — but how much, it's hard to say.”

This isn’t the first time Houston has experienced snow, but it is still something Houstonians aren’t accustomed to.

As local residents prepare to protest their pipes, outdoor plants and animals, the Operations staff at George Bush Intercontinental (IAH), William P. Hobby (HOU) and Ellington (EFD) Airports will begin focusing on the runways, taxiways, airport bridges and the environmental impact.

This morning at 2:30 a.m., the airport system began deicing vehicle bridges. Just after 9 a.m., the rooftops were closed to allow crews to deice the spirals of the terminal garages.

“During a freeze like that, the airlines are in charge of de-icing the aircraft,” says acting chief operating office Frank Haley. “Our responsibility is focused more on the runways, taxiways, airport bridges and environmental oversight.”

Because of the limited protection offered by the de-icing fluid, pilots only have about five minutes to guide their plane through the de-icing equipment and take off.