Alanna G. 

Opinions Editor

amg7393@psu.edu

The city of Erie is no stranger to snowy winter months. In fact, the average snowfall per winter is about 100 inches. However, without fail, there always seems to be a number of issues caused by the winter weather in the city and surrounding areas. 

Late January alone saw car accidents that backed up I-90 for miles and had people waiting in their cars for hours. Many of the accidents on these major roads, like the ones experienced on I-90, are caused by tractor trailers, states Jim Shaut, Erie County Maintenance Manager. They are more prone to jackknifing and sliding, which can cause accidents and/or lane closures. 

The intense winter weather experienced by Erie does more than just cause accidents. Property damage is another common side effect. On January 20, a newly constructed sports dome in the city experienced damages due to heavy snow and ice build up. The buildup, which caused major tears, was the result of the snow front that blew through that week. Its effect is more than just the predicted cost to repair; upcoming tournaments set to take place in the dome have been canceled for the next month. 

Power outages caused by tree damage and snow accumulation is another result of the winter weather experienced in Erie. Crews of responders who are part of Pennelec, prepare ahead of time to respond the best that they are able to when storms are predicted. Todd Meyers, First Energy spokesperson explains the preparative measures taken by crews as they brace for the snowstorm in early February this year. 

“We begin to staff more dispatchers, so that we send the crews to the areas of damage. We’ve got more damage assessors on. They’re the folks that go out on the field and see the job, ‘Hey, we need this equipment and we need this material in this location.’”

Electric companies are not the only ones responsible for maintenance during and after winter storms. PennDOT plows are responsible for keeping the roads clear of snow and ice. However, “they’re usually done at eight o’clock,” explains Jill Harry, PennDOT Press Officer. This means that for storms that affect the areas overnight, PennDOT must have their crews “stay over late”, and may explain why when surprise snowstorms hit overnight, the roads do not get plowed until early the next morning. 

Major roadways in Erie get salted to prevent the formation of black ice. Contrary to popular belief, street salt does not melt the snow. Instead, salt lowers the freezing point of water, which can make it appear to be melting the snow around it, when it is actually preventing the snow around it from freezing.  

The main reason for salting roadways is to keep the snow from bonding to the pavement beneath it, which makes it even more difficult to plow. “You put the salt down so that when the moisture comes to it in the form of snow you end up with a barrier between the snow and the pavement that keeps the snow or ice from bonding to the pavement,” says John Allin, owner of the Erie-based Allin Rose Consulting Inc., which is a private contractor for snow removal. “That makes it much, much easier to plow, but that’s only really good when you’ve got 2, 3, 4, 5 inches of snow.”

Heavy snowfall, like what is common in the Erie area, dilutes the salt. Diluted salt causes the freezing point to rise back to normal levels, which means that the snow and/or water can refreeze, and bond to the pavement as ice. 

Snow removal on the sidewalks, however, is the responsibility of the property-owner. According to Town Ordinance, the owners are responsible for clearing their sidewalks within 24 hours after a snowstorm. The snow should be deposited onto another area of the owner’s property, not onto city streets. 

Staying safe driving and walking on and off campus can be difficult during snow. While driving, allow for extra time to reach your destination. Driving slowly will help prevent accidents and allow for more time to react if things go sideways. Make sure to keep a snow scraper, an extra blanket, protein packed dry food, and extra water in your car in case something happens which would cause you to get stuck in your car. 

When walking around campus, make sure your footwear is appropriate. Although it may not be the best match to your outfit, flat-soled, water resistant and insulated snow boots will keep you the warmest, safest and driest. Give yourself extra time to walk to classes. Rushing over slippery snow and ice is more likely to result in a fall. Keep your phone in a front pocket if possible when walking, to prevent it from breaking if you fall forward or backward. Keep your hands out of your pockets and never try to catch yourself with either your hands and arms, as doing so could result in broken wrists. Points of contact during a fall should be the bigger, more reinforced parts of your body, like your thighs, hips and shoulders. Always make sure to bend your head and neck to avoid a head injury while falling. Staying safe while walking and driving in Erie winters is very important, so be cautious.