Mat-Su Times

Snowmageddon is upon us.  Yes, we live in Alaska and you'd think we're used to it by now  - but if Valley history has taught us anything, it's that there are still people out there who either have poor judgment, terrible timing, and/or end up in spectacularly unfortunate circumstances through no fault of their own.  Our crews are all out there tonight, from end-to-end, Parks to Glenn, and there are things you can do to help.

- Stay home.  These are white-out conditions, rapid snowfall, and fast-moving drifts.  Even if you think it's a short trip that you're confident about, the road conditions could be radically different by the time you come back out.  So save the Target trip for a better time, which we all know is like ... 07:30 am on a weekend when there are NO people.  And forget Costco, Anchorage is closed.  (Sorry, moose out front should've told you.)

- Be prepared for power outages.  As the snow gets heavier, we're bound to have wires coming down.  Make sure you have alternate lighting and your electronics are charged.  Be careful with candles!

- Speaking of fire, check your heating sources and exhausts.  Carbon Monoxide is a silent killer and one blocked vent could mean the difference between life and death.  

- Try to keep your entryways free of snow, as much as possible.  With the rapid accumulation of snow, we've already had multiple instances of having to leave the vehicles on the road and hiking into residences.  There's no avoiding that, but it does add precious time when we're trying to access someone in an emergency.  So even if it's just the door and steps leading up to it, it helps.

- Please consider why you're calling.  If it is for a minor issue, or something non-urgent, please consider alternate resources or waiting until the storm clears.  We are going to come if you call and in these conditions each call takes sometimes quadruple the time, tying up units and making them unavailable for more serious emergencies. 

- Please check on your elderly neighbors or anyone who lives alone or is low resource.

- If you are older, have a history of heart conditions or hypertension, and/or aren't in great shape, then DON'T BE A HERO ABOUT SHOVELING.  We're not kidding about this - shoveling snow kills elderly people here every single year.  If you must, do it in small increments, take frequent breaks, and use a buddy system so that someone can check on you.  

- Please be patient.  Working with no visibility, in deep snow, takes time.  We're here, we promise.  Just give us a few minutes to slog through and get to you safely.

See you on the other side!!!

Original source can be found here.