Midwest Buried Under Blanket of Snow

Uncategorized

In January of 2019, a record-breaking winter storm tore through the Midwest inflicting major damages and taking twenty-one lives. The U.S. Postal Service suspended service in parts of several states. Wind chill temperatures were as cold as minus 66 degrees in Minnesota.  In Chicago 1,000 flights arriving and departing were canceled.  Moreover, the freezing temperatures barely allow someone to step outside for 5 minutes without risk of health issues or accidents.

By: Brian Kersey

 The winter storm accumulated due to a fracture in the polar vortex. The polar vortex is described by climatologists as a dome of cold air that sits on the polar part of our planet. At the edge of the dome is the polar front that rotates from west to east. For reasons unknown, it started to tilt and rotate north and south. Depending on which way it’s tilted changes where the cold air is going to go. Discussing the measures taken during and after the winter storm to prepare and assist the community in insuring the safest outcome, Paul Gross, meteorologist at WDIV in Detroit, Michigan, states, “I always give the public very specific communication regarding timing and impacts of the approaching weather… during the storm, I step up my social media reporting, frequently tweeting radar images, temperatures, etc.  After a winter storm, I communicate ‘what to do’ information, such as if somebody sees a downed power line, if their gutters are overflowing with ice and icicles, etc.” Scientist are not sure why the vortex is moving south toward the U.S. however, they have discovered that it is going to become common.  

At Iowa State University, classes were delayed, and specific tools were used to ensure that students and faculty were caught up on studies so that the winter storm did not extend the   semester. John McCarroll, Executive Director Office of University Relations explained, “Classes were cancelled, and university offices were closed all day Tuesday, Jan. 29 until noon, Thursday, 

Jan. 31. This was the first instance in nearly half a century that the campus was essentially closed more than two days. The reason for the closure was dangerously cold temperatures. How students make up for lost class or laboratory time is up to faculty members. The end date for the spring semester is unchanged.” 

  • by Rahul Venkit

Candice Payne by: Rahul Venkit

In Chicago proactive steps were made to address the homeless population and additional facilities were added to the existing homeless shelters. Private assistance was received from the local business community in obtaining additional facilities to take care of the homelessness.  According to Melissa Stratton, Director of Communications and Government Affairs at Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications, “residents took it upon themselves to drop off propane tanks to homeless encampments.” However, one of the tanks exploded and the firefighters explained that, “just one of those propane tanks can blow up a building 20 to 25 stories high when they explode.” Stratton went onto add that, “A private resident…initially she was anonymously doing so, she took it upon herself to actually help 70 residents by way of securing hotel rooms for them after the encampment exploded and she put it on her credit card, to my knowledge in the last 20 years I had not seen that before.” 

By: Emily Blobaum/Iowa State Daily

Since the winter storm is not staying stagnate people from various regions of the country are going to want to be tuned in to what is going on especially with the new winter storms.  A positive of the winter storm has been the community collaboration to bring help and protection from those in need. The innate goodness of humanity rally together to help those in need. How have the winter storms impacted you? What do you think about citizens helping one another in a crisis?

Videos of the winter storms:

For more on weather visit these blog sites:

Unknown's avatar

About sophiabelhaven

My name is Sophia I’m currently a student at Belhaven University. I’m majoring in interdisciplinary studies and I’m focusing on Public Relations/ Communications and Classical Education. I was born in Texas but I moved around a lot, I currently live in Jackson, Mississippi. I enjoy different things such as, running, reading, hanging out with family and friends and being outside. I hope to get a job out of college that allows me to travel and talk to people. I really like going to sporting events and to the theatre. Someone who I look up to who has helped me get to where I am today is my mom.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.