As storm subsides, snow removal efforts begin

Winter storm warnings for Borderland expired at 6 a.m. Thursday leaving in their place a wind chill advisory calling for potential wind chills as low as 25 below zero.

“Residents all around the area need to get the snow cleaned up before the cold sets in,” Mike Stewart, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Duluth told The Journal Thursday. “Once it gets too cold, it will be like moving concrete...But on the plus side, with the cold air coming in, it’ll shut off any major snow storms for at least a week and a half.”

This week’s persistent snowstorm had some kind of flurries flying for nearly 72 hours straight, and gave snowplow crews little time to sleep between extended shifts.

International Falls Public Works Director Gary Skallman said city crews began plowing snow Thursday at midnight and were still at it around 9 a.m. later that day.

“Early-hour shifts are scheduled primarily for safety and less traveling motorists during these hours,” he said. “Snow removal at other hours of the day greatly increases safety issues.”

Skallman said crews typically stick to an eight-hour shift when plowing, but overtime can come into play as determined by a supervisor.

Koochiching County Engineer Joe Sutherland said similar policies are applied to the county’s snow removal system.

“For a large snowfall event, our crews will sometimes work several hours beyond the typical work day on snow removal and sanding/salting operations,” he said. “For most snowfall events, after the initial snow removal work is complete to make the road passable, ongoing and follow-up efforts are required to sand and salt the road, widen the road surface or shoulder areas, and clear turn-arounds.”

Both city and county officials remind residents that it is illegal to shovel, blow or plow snow into public roadways.

“We’re noticing it’s worse than it’s ever been,” said Walt Buller, the county’s maintenance supervisor. “It becomes a public safety hazard.”

The Minnesota State Patrol reported 175 crashes statewide from Monday through Wednesday and nearly 120 vehicles that had run off the road.

Early closures

Visibility became very limited after noon Wednesday and area schools closed early to ensure buses could transport students home safely.

“The district does its best to monitor the forecast and what is actually happening outside,” said Falls Superintendent Nordy Nelson of the decision to close schools early. “As the snow kept coming down, the visibility really dropped...We really do our best to address decisions based on the safety of the kids.”

Automated calls alerting parents and guardians that school would close at 1:30 p.m. were made around 1:15 p.m., giving them little time to make arrangements for their children. Nelson said he was aware there was a very short reaction window and said he appreciated the willingness of the public and the parents to work with the school in situations similar to what happened Wednesday.

“Every snowstorm is going to be a different scenario,” he said. “We cannot control the timing of when things are going to happen.”

He said the school remained open for students who didn’t have a place to go right away and at least two students were brought home by the school’s vans.

“Everyone does their best to make sure every child gets home and gets home safely,” he said. “There were some parents who didn’t get the call, but we didn’t have updated contact information for them. It is important that when phone numbers change, that parents alert the school of those changes in a timely manner.”

Nelson said he feels the school’s automated system — which is able to make about 2,200 calls in three minutes — is effective.

“Many years ago, there wasn’t a system like this,” he said. “Now we can get any information or message out to anyone who has their phone number up to date.”

The system was also used around 5:30 a.m. Thursday to alert parents buses and classes were starting two hours late.