Posted on 01/04/2007 10:53:22 AM PST by george76
It's been snowing all day in Anchorage and it's still coming. A combination of snow, fog and ice contributed to more than 100 cars becoming stuck in ditches and snow berms across the city.
The Anchorage Police Department said accidents occurred at a pace of a collision every 10 minutes today.
A snow advisory remains in effect and the job of digging out is only beginning.
Midtown resident Linda Rinard just returned from vacation.
"I just flew in at 9:00 a.m. from Las Vegas; two weeks and sunny Las Vegas," she said.
Sherri Stein picked up Rinard from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and brought her to Stein's driveway. Rinard and Stein are among the army of folks with shovels and snow blowers digging out, but only making room for more snow to take its place. The constantly falling snow and fog make it difficult for drivers to see the road.
Some ended up stuck in a snow bank like Jennifer Alger.
"I was just driving down the road and everything all looked the same, just all white. And my tires caught the snow bank, just went right through it, so my car's completely stuck," she said.
The worst of the snow-related accidents happened on the Glenn Highway this morning. Five cars and two people were taken to the hospital. Traffic was forced to reroute on the Hiland Road exit.
Some of those in the ditch say they dove for it as they tried to avoid other cars.
"I just decided to get in the ditch rather than hit them in the middle of the road," said Shannon Overstreet, who was stuck in a ditch.
(Excerpt) Read more at ktuu.com ...
We're doomed!
State workers in Anchorage went home early today and the city closed libraries and several parks and recreational facilities early ...
Who wouldda thunk it?
You'd think that Alaskans know how to drive in snow and ice, and they do. It is these cheechakos who never even saw a live snowflake before and just got to Alaska this summer. Probably 1/3 the population.
"It's been snowing all day in Anchorage and it's still coming."
Isn't that what it is SUPPOSE to do in Alaska in January?
The only ones smiling through all of this mess were wrecker drivers, who consider all of the weather-related wrecks like these as payday.
Snow? In Alaska?
No friggin way!
Today was a record snowfall day for the Anchorage area...
""HELP! HELP! Nancy!! Quick! It's snowed and I can't get up! You and Barney and Teddy and Kerry and the rest of the Mules , Please save us......NOW!!!"
Do we have any FReepers in Anchorage? It would be interesting to hear from them.
In the Interior, snow continues to be barely enough to justify owning a snow shovel. The wet stuff doesn't make it over the mountains as a rule, but it sure dumps on the south slope. Valdez can wake up any day under ten feet of snow. Fairbanks can wake up any day to 0.5 inches of fresh snow.
"Mommy Pelosi! Mommy Pelosi! I'm 5 years old and I'm trapped in the snow! I need a $1M grant!"
It was warm for Alaska.
What's a cheechako, RW? Is that a local term in Alaska?
Why isn't FEMA handing out checks already?
They do quite well all year round by towing vehicles in unauthorized parking spaces. At the university business is brisk even in summer, and most businesses have 'will be towed' signs up.
Best powder skiing on the planet right now!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.