Karina Calderon, Staff Reporter
February 2, 2012
With all the late winter snow that Ellensburg has received in the past two weeks, many of people have mixed emotions about it. Some love it, some despise it, some don’t care, and some just don’t know what to do when it snows. Here are some tips to staying safe and warm this winter season provided by Corporal Andrew Bayne of the Central Washington University Department of Public Safety , Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), and Ellensburg Public Works.
How can students stay safe?
“Wear a coat, be smart, and don’t wear flip flops in the snow,” Bayne said.
Make sure to have proper tires and if you have studded tires, use them. If you have to travel a long distance weigh your options. Charter busses that take people across mountain passes and the Central Transit travels to the campus and around town (schedule and map online), and if you just can’t drive, then don’t.
What if we have a car?
There is no reason to be in a hurry, so just drive carefully and slowly. Parking lots on campus are always plowed, so parking on campus would be a great option. However, if you don’t have a parking pass, scope out where to park, because you don’t want to be stuck due to the snow being plowed off to the side of the road. If your car happens to get buried in snow, it is helpful to have a shovel in your car. According to Ellensburg City Code two provisions “may result in a car being towed from the public right of way: City Coed 8.12.04 provides that no vehicle shall park on any street for a period longer than 24 hours; and City Code 8.26.04 (J) authorizes the signing of streets for snow removal and other street maintenance purposes. During periods of snowfall, owners need to be especially aware of these provisions and remove their vehicle if it has been parked for extended period of time on the street. The cost of towing is the responsibility of the vehicle owner.”
What should we keep in our cars?
According to the WSDOT website, it is always smart to keep a basic survival kit in your vehicle which consist of: flashlight, batteries, blanket, snacks, water, gloves, boots, and a first-aid kit. If you are traveling in town, a long distance, or across the mountain passes, you should always load your vehicle with: tire chains, ice scraper/snow brush, jumper cables, road flares.
What if you are new to Ellensburg and have never experienced winter weather such as we have experienced this year?
Do research. According to Bayne, if you are new to Central and Ellensburg do research of the town and how snow conditions are handled. For many, this is the first time that students are away from home so it is a learning experience.
For those who don’t know, “snow removal and street safety beings when the streets are icy or snow has accumulated to one inch and is still snowing,” according to Ellensburg Public Works. “When snow exceeds four inches in depth and it is still snowing with additional snow forecast, plowing beings.”
Corporal Bayne’s overall message was simple.
“Plan ahead and be prepared,” he said.
Winter on the eastside of the mountains always keeps us on our toes and we must be ready for whatever mother nature has in store for us.
