By A&E Editor: Madison Deadman
The week of Jan. 5 consisted of temperatures close to 33 degrees below zero with windchill. According to MLive, these are the coldest temps that have hit Michigan in decades. Because of these low temps schools had been cancelled statewide for days.
As many people were staying safe and warm in their homes, news stations were full of thrilling stories that kept us interested and on edge during the snow storm. What I found most comedic about the incoming snow was that people were stocking up on groceries and other necessities the night before the snow was expected to fall. Even with all of the registers open, shopping lines extended back throughout the stores. Many people were comparing the low-supplied stores to what they would look like in a zombie apocalypse.
However, these low temps and large quantities of snow were not a laughing matter but actually quite serious. Frostbite warnings made big news especially in the more northwestern cities like Grand Rapids. Arctic air was barreling into these cities, and if skin was exposed in these subzero temperatures, frostbite could easily occur within minutes. Young children and older adults were advised to avoid going outside in the frigid weather unless it was absolutely necessary. If necessary, everyone should have been bundled up with hats, gloves, scarves and boots to prevent any skin damage.
The storm was so severe that it was blamed for six deaths throughout the state. Three people perished in Oakland County as a result of shoveling the snow off their driveways. Many people who have not been active this winter, or have struggle with heart problems, or are elderly were struggling with this chore. People were shoveling three feet of snow at a time and that obviously is no easy feat. According to the Detroit Free Press, a 36-year-old Detroit man, who had health issues prior to the incident, collapsed and his family rushed him to the hospital where he died. A 57-year-old Milford man and a 67-year-old woman in Pontiac also collapsed while shoveling.
Elsewhere in the state, two traffic deaths had been recorded due to the heavy snow and bone-chilling weather which made traveling precarious
The storm piled 17 inches of snow in Flint and led to school cancellations, flights, and many events. Many businesses were closed or opened hours later than their usual schedule. The Detroit Public Library even took the day off to save their employees from the risk of driving.
Not only were business owners being extremely cautious about the snow but Governor Rick Snyder partially activated the state’s Emergency Operations Center. They were available to respond to local requests for assistance.
“Public health and safety is our primary concern. Residents should heed advisories and stay off the roads if at all possible. State authorities continue to monitor the situation closely while sharing information and coordinating with communities. Let’s all work together and make safety our top priority.” Snyder said.
All of the attention this snowstorm received from the media and panicking Michiganders was well deserved. It has been the most snow we have undergone in decades along with some of the coldest temps we have experienced in quite some time.
