Posted on 12/23/2004 4:08:09 AM PST by Cheetah1
HUNDREDS OF CARS STRANDED ON I-24
NEWS MEDIA IS REPORTING THE NATIONAL GUARD HAS BEEN CALLED OUT.
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN CARS.
ONE STRETCH OF I-24 HAS FORTY MILES OF CARS BACKED UP.
THIS IS THE MAIN ROAD THROUGH THIS ENTIRE REGION.
News Media is having people call in from cars. Serious situation here in Western KY. Temperatures are falling into the lower teens and single digits. They are attempting to get people out.
We have 14 inches of snow. This is the most snowfall ever recorded in Paducah, KY. Drifts are up and over cars.
Never seen anything like this here.
If I was a backhoe operator, I would say, "screw 'em". It's too risky. You run the risk of some pissant getting bent out of shape because you dinged his front fender. If they don't have enough sense to stay home, why should I risk my life rescuing idiots from their jackpot?
How many hurricanes did you have this year?
"..can't someone take a backhoe or plow to the front of the line and start clearing them as fast as possible?"
First you have to get the plow there. That could be a problem. Then you have to put the snow somewhere. You can't just push it. You have to take a chunk, drive it to the side of the road, dump it, repeat for a while. Once you have a stretch opened up, a big plow can work up enough momentum to blast it out of the way.
You can't drive through this stuff. Some of the heaviest snow I've ever seen. Your car just packs it down to ice and then you sink down into it. The underside of the car gets hung up on it and then you are screwed.
The main roads around here are pretty clear. It's the side streets, drives, parking lots that are bad. Temperature dropped from 32 t0 28 while I am typing this! The freeze is on the way. Shovel fast, folks. What you don't move now is going to be with you until next week. My last car of three is going to have to stay where it is, I think.
I hope everyone gets out ok.
Sidenote: Global Warming my ass!
Caller: "We're stuck in 14 inches of snow, and it's cold."
Onstar: "Yes sir, we show you on the STRETCH OF I-24 that HAS FORTY MILES OF CARS BACKED UP, do you want us to notify the police?"
Caller: "Yes, we didn't believe the weather report and now it's cold and we're scared."
Police Dispatcher: "Kentucky Hiway Patrol, state your emergency."
Onstar: "Hello, this is Melvin from Onstar, and we have Mr. ***** on the line. He states he's on the STRETCH OF I-24 that HAS FORTY MILES OF CARS BACKED UP, and requires assistance."
Police Dispatcher: "#&^)*)&^%#$*(*(&*^#$^&%#%$_)*&"
Onstar: "Thank you, we will notify the caller."
Onstar: "Mr. *****, we have notified the police and they said help is on the way."
Caller: "Oh, thank you Onstar, you're the greatest, and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year."
Onstar: "And thank you for calling Onstar."
Coleman now markets a survival kit for cars that includes an 800BTU catalytic heater. A disposable propane cylinder will keep you warm for more than 16 hours.
Does anyone know how is I-75 through Kentucky (TN / OH)
It's Bush's fault - it's global warming I tell you!
Try backhoeing 40 miles of road, and pretty soon, you're not going to like the long hours.
We need to send lawyers right away.
Praying for those involved.
An interesting side note-here in Akron, Ohio, we've missed out on the big snowfall totals in every storm the last 10 years. We have always been on either the eastern or western edge and might get 3-6 inches from the same storm that dumps a foot somewhere else.
I sure hope the thing exhausts to the outside, otherwise everyone in the car will be dead in about 15 minutes.
Well, after this you can tack another $100,000 onto the average California home price. ;)
14 inches is huge if it's strong wind conditions causing the snow to drift up very quickly and higher than many cars are capable of driving through.
I stupidly drove in a blizzard in minnesota on thanksgiving weekend in about 1988 or so. The 4 hour drive took about 8 hours and was completely hairy the entire time. Cars were going in the ditch all around us, including a 4WD that had just passed us. I was very fortunate to not get stuck, and I'll never take a chance like that again without a 4WD.
My sister lives in Paris. Back in the early 1990s they had a "blizzard" that shut the city down for two days. It was less than an inch of snow.
I heard the Thundersnow too. I am hearing a lot of flooding and roads flooded. As this temperature drops today to single digits, it's going to be the ice that's dangerous. I sure hope that new "liquid solution" can handle it. Regular salt, like what has been used in the past can't.
Worse, I live on a dead-end street. I cleared my drive & SUV, but no plows have been down yet. I may be stuck anyway...even with an SUV.
Hey - EVERY July the French highways going to the Rivieria get backed up and blocked for at LEAST 40 miles when everyone takes off for their month long vacation. It happens like clock work - however - they don't have to contend with cold and snow - but there are always a goodly number that run out of gas, suffer heat prostration or become dehydrated.
Agreed, but keep in mind that since that amount of snow is rare for that area, the state doesn't have the plows and other emergency vehicles to effectively handle the situation.
Also, People in the area are unused to driving in snow. I drove through KY while there was about 1/2 of dusty snow swirling on the road. The locals were driving 25-30 MPH on the highway!
I remember that storm too. Toronto got hit by the same storm but we got off easy- only about two feet of snow. Even though we got walloped things were so bad in Buffalo that the city sent plows and a melter across the border as soon as our main roads were cleared.
I've lived in Arkansas and while snow may not be a big deal, ice storms are.
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.