Warriors of the North brace for the coming winter

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Susan L. Davis
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Anyone who has lived in North Dakota long enough might agree that North Dakota is synonymous with winter.

Regardless of whether a northern tier winter is a new challenge or an old routine, there is a wealth of information available to help make the North Dakota winters safer and more secure.

Last year, total accumulated snowfall was more than 44 inches, and this year meteorologists are calling for another 42-45 inches and below average temperatures.

Balfour Beatty privatized housing residents should prepare for changes this winter regarding snow removal procedures. Once snow accumulation has stopped or drifting conditions improve, snow removal will begin on priority 1 roads, including major thoroughfares. Residential sidewalks are categorized as priority 2, and driveways are priority 3. Driveway snow removal will only initiate after an accumulation of two inches or more.

There will be no parking on the street during the snow removal process. Residents are encouraged to park their vehicles inside their garages to make the snow removal process quicker and easier, and to stow their personal items, such as fire pits and planters, in a safe place to avoid loss or damage.

Base housing residents who are planning to travel are also reminded that a helpful neighbor and a Winter Watchman are a must.

The Winter Watchman is a thermostat, red light bulb and extension cord kit that is hung in a front window of the home. It is designed to indicate when the air temperature in the house becomes too cold. The person designated by the resident to watch the house must check inside daily to ensure no loss of heat or power to the home. If the red light comes on, a Balfour Beatty representative will meet the designee at the house to check the furnace operation and ensure that there are no frozen water lines that could cause the pipes to burst.

On the road, with anything from black ice to snow drifts or even other drivers posing a possible threat, drivers should take extra precautions. While safety kits are not a requirement, they are a highly recommended asset that could save a life. Every kit should include at least a working cell phone, jumper cables, and tow rope. For a more thorough list of items to keep in your car safety kit, see the Grand Forks Air Force Base Cold Hard Facts fact sheet.

Winterizing your vehicle is also extremely important. This includes ensuring the car battery is in good shape and terminals are clean, keeping the gas tank as full as possible to avoid condensation build-up, and ensuring tires are graded for winter conditions.

Road conditions on base are listed by color. Road condition green indicates that visibility is good, snow, ice, mud, hail or water on the road is negligible, and travel conditions are unrestricted. Travel condition yellow indicates that visibility is restricted to between 50 feet to ½ mile, road obstructions are hazardous but passable, and drivers should use caution and observe a 20-mile-per-hour speed limit. Road condition red is the most severe, and indicates that visibility is less than 50 feet, nearly impassable road obstructions, and travel conditions restricted to only snow essential personnel.

Winter in North Dakota comes with its own unique challenges and obstacles, but with the proper education and common sense, Grand Forks AFB members can manage the winter challenges and pull through safely to see another spring.