Jefferson City, MO  (KTRS)  A worker shortage with the Missouri Department of Transportation could create havoc for motorists if a major snow storm hits the region.

MODOT’s Director, Patrick McKenna,expressed that concern to lawmakers during a state budget hearing this week.

“We were about 500 people below where we needed to be in terms of being able to handle a statewide storm coming into this season,” McKenna said Tuesday.

“We have had winter conditions throughout the state (recently), but they haven’t blanketed the entire state. We were very fortunate that they didn’t. We would have been pretty challenged meeting the service needs of the public.” McKenna added.

“We could end up with a level of service that doesn’t meet the expectations of the citizens of the state,” McKenna told the St. Louis Post Dispatch, adding that could mean not plowing at night.

MODOT reported that last weekend it was operating with a limited staff in preparation for Monday’s storm. The department said it was operating with its full staff until 3 a.m. Monday.