Community Chat

[Hoovermom]

On 1/29/2014 chrystaltree said:

Who would think that 3 or 4 inches of snow and icy road conditions would be so traumatic? I could understand it if those areas received 23 inches of snow. But a dusting brought them to their knees? Really? What I want to know is, since they get a storm like this every 10 years or so. Why weren't they equipped with chemicals to treat the roads? The snow fall was paltry, so they didn't really need a lot of plows. They just needed to treat the roads, to keep them from icing over. Also, meterorologists were predicting this for a week. Why didn't they reach out to other states for assistance? Northern states that were not going to be affected and could have lent a hand, equipment, assistance. It's like they just sat there and waited. Sorry, saying "we aren't used to this" is not an excuse for those in charge of public safety. It just isn't.

With temperatures below freezing the ground was not warm, topping that with 1-3 inches of snow it turned to ice. Here in Birmingham we do not have a lot of trucks that can spread the sand/chemicals. The Mayor of Birmingham sent some of these trucks to areas further south of us because they were the ones who were going to get hit much harder. Now they are on their way back to help us out. I agree that someone in charge should be held responsible but you know how that goes. I was very upset and called the DOT, EMA, Hoover Police trying to get some answers and there were none. DH sat on the interstate from for 15+ hour until he abandoned his car and was shuttled to a warming station. Some people have been on the road for 22 hours and I fear for them when night comes. Something fell through the cracks and it needs to be fixed but it is too late for this storm. Now I wait to see if DH can get back to his car and drive it home. Crossing my fingers.

[Nonametoday]

On 1/29/2014 terrier3 said:

So sorry you are experiencing this.

I have been stuck in WNY storms (once for two days!) and its not pleasant.

Its great he is off the road now, safe and sound.

Its during times like storms that we can all really appreciate our public servants who are there to help.

The weather people predicted the storms for the wrong areas. They may be too concerned about other things than weather. This should be a lesson to the viewing public that these weather people are very inaccurate. What devices were telling them how off course they were? Geez. Even I looked at the sky and doubted what they were saying.

[Nonametoday]

On 1/29/2014 Hoovermom said:

On 1/29/2014 Sooner said:

I find it hard to believe that they didn't have warning.If not that is awful! Maybe they are talking about warning farther in advance than they are used to. Oklahoma where I live is famous for wild weather--everything from tornadoes and hail to lots of ice and snow. A recent ice storm did thousands of dollars worth of damage to our trees.

One famous older meteorologist from this area was asked recently why Oklahomans were so obsessed with the weather, and he said "If they don't pay attention, they die." So around here, when any hint of ice, hail, tornadoes or whatever is in the offing we are all tuned in all day to TV, National Weather Service and whatever and keeps up basically minute-by-minute because we are so used to rapid changes. And when something is coming, we high-tail it to safety because we are used to that. We never assume the weather at noon will be what they said last night or even that morning.

I wonder if the forecasts changed rapidly and folks just assumed nothing was going to crop up.

Hoovermom--do you live in Hoover AL? BEAUTIFUL area and it would hard to get up the hills around there for sure!!! It is flat where I live so we just slide around home.

The weather changed so quickly, like within an hour. The weather has already been below freezing so the ground was not that warm. We do really well with tornadoes and are always kept up to breast with them, but this one was totally a surprise. Yes, I live in Hoover and it is a beautiful town but lots of hills. Thanks!!

Weather people screwed the pooch on this one. Weather did not change that quickly. I could look at the sky on Monday and tell they were way off their predictions. Even the Farmers Almanac was right on this one but not the glorified weather people.

[Hoovermom]

Namealreadytaken: I am sorry to hear about your DIL on the other thread and hope you hear something really soon. In answer to your post I think Atlanta would have better resources (dollars) than the Birmingham area. Anyway, it is horrible and people are still on the highways which I find unbelievable. I should say that this is no excuse because I heard that the weather channel was the one who saw it but obviously ignored by our local weather stations. It caught me by surprise because there were no real warnings until my DH called and said the traffic was at a standstill outside Montgomery, AL. Then it went downhill from there. Yes, someone should have to be responsible but the stranded motorists are the ones paying the price.

[Sooner]

On 1/29/2014 namealreadytaken said:

On 1/29/2014 terrier3 said:

So sorry you are experiencing this.

I have been stuck in WNY storms (once for two days!) and its not pleasant.

Its great he is off the road now, safe and sound.

Its during times like storms that we can all really appreciate our public servants who are there to help.

The weather people predicted the storms for the wrong areas. They may be too concerned about other things than weather. This should be a lesson to the viewing public that these weather people are very inaccurate. What devices were telling them how off course they were? Geez. Even I looked at the sky and doubted what they were saying.

If you are talking about the weather channel, they are simply worthless. I try to go to the national severe storms lab forecasts and the national weather service site too and read some of their technical data--which is still understandable and usually more accurate.

The weather channel has totally lost focus. They are more worried about live shots after the fact.

[Silver Lining]

Hoovermom, I talked to a friend in Mountain Brook about an hour ago. Her grandmother is a very active 87yo who was out somewhere Wednesday afternoon. Not sure of the details, but the group got stranded and were eventually transported to a senior complex where they spent last night. They're still there as the roads aren't passable. My friend said I-65 is also blocked since the sand and chemical trucks can't do what needs to be done due to the vehicles that were wrecked and the cars that passengers left where they were stuck. She also said that there are children who are still at school from yesterday morning.

[terrier3]

On 1/29/2014 chrystaltree said:

Who would think that 3 or 4 inches of snow and icy road conditions would be so traumatic? I could understand it if those areas received 23 inches of snow. But a dusting brought them to their knees? Really? What I want to know is, since they get a storm like this every 10 years or so. Why weren't they equipped with chemicals to treat the roads? The snow fall was paltry, so they didn't really need a lot of plows. They just needed to treat the roads, to keep them from icing over. Also, meterorologists were predicting this for a week. Why didn't they reach out to other states for assistance? Northern states that were not going to be affected and could have lent a hand, equipment, assistance. It's like they just sat there and waited. Sorry, saying "we aren't used to this" is not an excuse for those in charge of public safety. It just isn't.

I once was stuck on the 490 leading into Rochester from 8AM til 5PM...many people were stuck there overnight!

Speaking from experience, it's not the 3 inches of snow or even the ice. It's the traffic jams caused by jack-knifed semis. Once they block the road, there is no getting around them if you are on a highway with ditches on the shoulders.

Even the huge tow trucks that are needed to get the truck cabs out of the ditches can't get through....so everyone sits for hours.

About 3 years ago there was a bad storm in Buffalo. People were stuck on the Thruway for 2 days. They couldn't get around the trucks. People climbed fences to get on the interstate and brought them pizzas and supplies. Volunteers on snowmobiles went from car to car to find out who needed to be evacuated or needed medicine. Now the Thruway Authority has invested in electronic gates that swing shut and stop cars from entering the highway. We also have alternate storm evacuation roads.

I doubt if they have those aids down South....we didn't even get the gates until a few years ago!

I also don't think there are many snowmobiles in Atlanta...so I bet it is an even bigger mess down there!

I feel you all...BTW - it is 2 degrees, minus 20 windchill in Buffalo...some major roads have been closed today due to blowing snow...no school either.

[Hoovermom]

On 1/29/2014 Silver Lining said:

Hoovermom, I talked to a friend in Mountain Brook about an hour ago. Her grandmother is a very active 87yo who was out somewhere Wednesday afternoon. Not sure of the details, but the group got stranded and were eventually transported to a senior complex where they spent last night. They're still there as the roads aren't passable. My friend said I-65 is also blocked since the sand and chemical trucks can't do what needs to be done due to the vehicles that were wrecked and the cars that passengers left where they were stuck. She also said that there are children who are still at school from yesterday morning.

Oh I am so sorry to hear that but glad they were rescued. DH just called and said that he just went over the I-459 bypass road and hopes to be home soon. He was stranded at I-65 and Valleydale Road (one mile from the 459 bypass) until early this morning. Hoover Police told him to leave our car and come to the shelter. He is driving so that makes me happy that maybe the I-65N lanes are slowly starting to open up. Yes, there are children all over the city who have not made it home yet. Good luck to your friend's GM.

[Hoovermom]

YEAH, HE'S HOME!!!!

[Silver Lining]

On 1/29/2014 Hoovermom said:

On 1/29/2014 Silver Lining said:

Hoovermom, I talked to a friend in Mountain Brook about an hour ago. Her grandmother is a very active 87yo who was out somewhere Wednesday afternoon. Not sure of the details, but the group got stranded and were eventually transported to a senior complex where they spent last night. They're still there as the roads aren't passable. My friend said I-65 is also blocked since the sand and chemical trucks can't do what needs to be done due to the vehicles that were wrecked and the cars that passengers left where they were stuck. She also said that there are children who are still at school from yesterday morning.

Oh I am so sorry to hear that but glad they were rescued. DH just called and said that he just went over the I-459 bypass road and hopes to be home soon. He was stranded at I-65 and Valleydale Road (one mile from the 459 bypass) until early this morning. Hoover Police told him to leave our car and come to the shelter. He is driving so that makes me happy that maybe the I-65N lanes are slowly starting to open up. Yes, there are children all over the city who have not made it home yet. Good luck to your friend's GM.

You might have already logged out since I see from your last post that your DH just got home, but will answer anyway. I know the Valleydale exit and the 459 very well. So glad to hear I-65N is gradually opening along the way!!! I feel so terrible for the people who were stranded, cars abandoned or wrecked, and all the other stuff they're going to have to contend with to get back to normal. So glad your husband arrived home safely!!!