Winter storms can easily become billion-dollar disasters as the snow piles up on interstates and collapses roofs and power lines. Yet, while canceled flights and business interruptions can’t be avoided, what turns a snowstorm into a disaster often can be.
I have worked on engineering strategies to enhance disaster resilience for over three decades and recently wrote a book, “The Blessings of Disaster,” about the gambles humans take with disaster risk. Snowstorms stand out for how preventable much of the damage really is.
Stay off the roads
The easiest storm costs to avoid involve human behavior, including driving during snowstorms.
Successfully plowing the snow off a highway requires repeated passes to prevent snow from accumulating to the point where it piles up faster than it can be removed. However, that simple concept breaks down when an accident blocks the lanes, and traffic – including commerce and emergency vehicles – grinds to a halt.
When it takes snowmobiles to reach stranded drivers, the wait can be long and in some cases lethal. Hundreds of people were stranded for up to 24 hours on Interstate 95 during a snowstorm in Virginia in 2022.
Unfortunately, partly due to economic pressures, many people won’t stay home during a blizzard unless authorities close the roads or impose driving bans. Those who venture out should be prepared to survive hours in the cold and have proper gear to avoid freezing to death. It’s one reason the fad of wearing shorts, T-shirt and flip-flops in winter is ill-advised.
Pay attention to road closures and warnings
Authorities can help keep people safe by closing roads and issuing travel bans during severe winter storms. But if drivers ignore those closures, they put themselves and others at risk. Accidents during storms can lead to hours-long traffic jams, leaving people stranded and vulnerable to the cold.
Businesses, too, should heed warnings and close when necessary. In 2015, a lake-effect snowstorm in western New York dropped more than 7 feet of snow in three days, shutting down businesses and stranding people in their homes. The storm caused at least 13 deaths and an estimated $49 million in damages.
Prevent roof collapses
Heavy snow can cause roofs to collapse, endangering building occupants and damaging property. This risk can be mitigated by regularly removing snow from roofs, especially in areas prone to heavy snowfall. Building codes should require structures to be designed to withstand the maximum expected snow loads.
Power line damage
Ice and heavy snow can bring down power lines, leading to widespread outages. Utilities can invest in infrastructure upgrades to make power lines more resilient to winter weather, reducing the impact of snowstorms on electrical grids.
Ultimately, while winter storms are inevitable, the damage they cause is not. By taking preventive measures and heeding warnings, individuals and communities can reduce the impact of snowstorms and avoid costly disasters.
