By Stephen Smoot
West Virginians are familiar enough with the effects of heavy snows and cold temperatures made more frigid by robust gusts of wind. They see the impacts in missed school days, lost time at work, and the headaches caused by dangerous roads.
What fewer see are the challenges faced and overcome by those whose job lies in keeping everyone else safe and secure, whether at home, at work, or on the roads.
The West Virginia Department of Transportation has a massive task covering more than 80,000 miles of roadways throughout the state. From the interstate and Appalachian Corridor network to tar and gravel roads winding through remote hollows and over ridges and mountains, snowplows must take on a variety of road conditions involving mostly difficult terrain.
In many areas, such as US 33 over Allegheny Mountain, snow removal must continue well after the storm subsides because sustained winds drive heavy amounts of snow back onto the roadways.
“It’s necessary to have a good plan; it’s necessary to execute a good plan, and talk to each other,” explained Jimmy Wriston P.E. who serves as West Virginia Secretary of Transportation.
He described the work of snow removal and ice control as “not a productivity activity. It’s a deliberate activity that has to be done slowly, methodically, and safely.” With many counties understaffed and drivers continually working, their safety remains paramount as “crews are continuing to work around the clock.”
Approximately 1,000 snowplows can be at the state’s disposal for road clearing efforts.
Wriston praised the skill and work ethic of snowplow drivers, sharing that “driving a truck over the road, or driving a truck that uses asphalt or gravel in good weather, is a hard job. It’s a tough thing to do for a living.”
He went on to state “then you stick a snowplow on the dump trucks, 12 feet out in front of you, and you put yourself out there on the West Virginia roads in inclement weather and it’s a different animal.”
“Our West Virginia Department of Highways crews are highly dedicated,” said Rick Gillespie, Pendleton County Emergency Services coordinator. He agreed with Wriston that “we are very fortunate to have them serving the public 24/7 during these snowstorms, as well as year round.”
“For the number of personnel they have and the amount of equipment, they do wonderful work,” Gillespie shared.
Technology has also helped to improve response and capabilities in snow removal. Wriston described how “a few years ago we switched to data-driven decision making and that tells us exactly what we should be doing.”
Part of that includes resource planning. The department of highways acquired 231,000 tons of salt for use all over the state, relying on figures showing average amounts used each year during the past 10 years.
“I’m glad that I have the opportunity to get out there and show these guys that do it – and have worked all night as hard as they can work – that we support them, we care about them, and that they are doing a great job,” Wriston commented.
Besides snowplows, emergency service first responders also must brave difficult and dangerous conditions to ensure public safety. Mike Alt, Pendleton County Emergency Rescue training officer, explained that snow, ice, and cold has a significant impact on the people going out on calls.
Alt joined Wriston and Gillespie in praising snowplow personnel, saying that “WV DOH (is) always ready to help when they can by treating roads or plowing roads to get units in and out during the emergency.” He added that when they have to leave their normal plowing assignments, it’s often to plow a pathway in for an ambulance or other emergency response vehicle.
Often first responders have to improvise and back each other up because sometimes residents in danger lack equipment or ability to clear their private driveways and walkways. Alt took the opportunity to “shout out to the VFD in Franklin for members hearing a recent EMS call and helping with a snowplow and shovels to help the EMS crew get the patient out safely with the cot.”
“Great teamwork!” Alt added.
Just like any other vocation that requires outside work, emergency response in challenging conditions imposes more work, burdens, and dangers than on normal days.
Alt explained that first responders require “equipment in a state of readiness with fluids/snow chains.” Additionally, “personnel have to go above and beyond to remove snow and ice to be ready at a moment’s notice so they are not the emergency also.” Once on the road, they must remain prepared for any issue, including mechanical failures, ambulance breakdowns on long transports, or heating failures.
Cold conditions put vital equipment under more stress, so troubleshooting must be done often to ensure proper function when needed.
Gillespie joined Alt in expressing respect and appreciation to “our first response community,” calling those in it “volunteers (who) provide outstanding services to the county and our residents.”
“When the call is dispatched and wind chills are below zero and their vehicles are snow and ice covered, it would be easy to remain at home, yet they respond.” Gillespie went on to call them “special people who come out of their warm homes to help their neighbors, and, occasionally, strangers.”
Alt emphasized that civilians can help emergency responders by having “legible and recognizable physical addressing, early snow removal, clearing paths, clearing areas around the fire hydrants, and having outdoor lighting for crews coming in.”
He also praised “911 personnel for always making their way into work to answer that phone” and even sleeping at work to stay available “when others can’t make it in.”
