By: Jared Stranberg
From December to February, Omaha has faced a record 46.1 inches of snow, beating out the previous record of 44.3 inches in the 2003-2004 season.
Despite all the snow and the danger it creates, life must go on, and so must the commute. With the amount of snow, travel times have been extended, accidents have occurred, flights have been cancelled and people have been stranded.
Don Bowen, an adjunct professor here at UNO, is one of those commuters who faces the dangers of inclement weather when getting to and from his home in Fremont, Nebraska.
“There have been times when I’ve questioned my sanity,” said Bowen, “just because there have been a couple of instances when I have been almost driving on ice, especially on 275 between Omaha and Fremont.”
Facing this ice, he, along with other drivers, must slow down their highway travels to 40 or 50 mph at best. This caution has rewarded Bowen, as he is thankful that he has managed to avoid accidents this season.
Not everybody is as lucky. According to the Battalion Chief of the Omaha Fire Department, Scott Fitzpatrick, nearly 30 percent of emergency calls during last Saturday’s blizzard were related to the weather itself. Crew members in the department must be ready to respond to such incidents, regardless of the weather.
“We have chains for all the rigs in our fleet. Anything over 3-4 inches of snow our rigs chain up. Even the medical units,” said Fitzpatrick, explaining how OFD prepares. “[The members] pack other winter clothes as well as making sure they’re dressed for the weather. They have other gloves, hats, things like that in the rig in case they get wet, they can change out.”
Unfortunately, all that preparation doesn’t necessarily permit them to go as fast as they would normally. Fitzpatrick explained that “the most difficult part is for us having to take a step back and slow down” to assure their safe arrival to the emergency. You can’t save lives if you’re stuck in a ditch. For those who are traveling through the snow and ice, both commuters and first responders list one piece of advice first.
“Take it slow, give yourself plenty of time,” Fitzpatrick advised, “Also, have some sort of survival kit in your car ready to go. Blankets, shovels, a charged cellphone just in case something does happen.”
Don Bowen also recommended ample gas, blankets and a charged cellphone. Another point Bowen made is to “Watch everybody around you. Even if you’re careful and you do what you’re supposed to do and don’t make any sudden moves, you have no control over what somebody else does. So, you have got to watch them.”
Finally, be sure to avoid driving in the nighttime. If you are already driving in poor weather conditions, night can reduce your visibility significantly, thus increasing the likelihood of an accident even more. At that point in time, your chances are significantly better if you just wait until the storm passes and roads are cleared.
For those that do stay home, Battalion Chief Fitzpatrick did have one other recommendation. “Remembering to shovel off your fire hydrants in a 3-foot radius and your half of the street would be very helpful for us. As the fire department, we get there and every second counts. Taking the extra five minutes would help to protect life and property. Not just yours, but your neighbors’ property and lives as well.”
Whether you’re staying in or braving the winter storms, be sure to take all the precautions you can. One day, it may help save your life.
