Purdue News

January 8, 1999 Coping With The Snow Is A Team Effort By Wayne W. Kjonaas Vice President for Physical Facilities Since January 2, the Purdue campus and the entire Greater Lafayette community have been dealing with the after-effects of one of the worst winter storms in decades. The combination of heavy initial snowfall; high winds which produce drifting, persistent sub-freezing temperatures, and continued snow accumulation has caused significant traffic and parking problems. The arrival of thousands of additional cars as Purdue students return for the spring semester is complicating an already severe situation. I hope the campus and local communities will recognize the tremendous effort being put forth by the men and women working night and day to cope with this challenge. We will need continued patience and support before normalcy is restored. All local municipalities are communicating and cooperating. Purdue and the city of West Lafayette are working together closely on snow removal and emergency parking provisions. University crews have been plowing some West Lafayette streets, and the city has provided student parking in the levee area. Private citizens have even pitched in with "Shovel Brigades." On campus, Purdue crews and equipment have been working around the clock to clear streets and lots. In addition, the University has hired a private contractor to help with snow removal. In many campus areas, plowing has become ineffective, because there simply is no place to put the accumulated snow. In these cases, trucks are being used to haul snow to vacant areas south of campus. However, this process is very slow and difficult. The cooperation of drivers and other citizens is extremely important. Here are some things you can do to help: Car pool, take public transportation or walk if you can. This will reduce the number of cars on streets and in parking lots. Be prepared. Dress for the cold. Wear proper footwear for the slippery surfaces you may encounter. If you drive, make sure your car is equipped with jumper cables, emergency flares, sand or rock salt, and a shovel for digging out of snowdrifts. On campus, park in garages if possible to facilitate snow removal from surface lots. Additional parking will be available in the Ross-Ade Stadium lot and shuttle services will be provided to the center of campus. Allow extra time for travel. In addition to the slow pace of traffic, you may have to park further from your destination than usual. Be patient. This is one of those times when nature has temporarily disrupted our usual comfortable routine. We will get through it if we work together, and someday we'll even enjoy telling stories about the winter of '99. And finally, say something nice to a road crew worker. They deserve it. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page