We’ve received between 12 and 18 inches of so or so here in Cleveland, and it’s no joke! I measured the drifts at my house and they’re about 18 inches and the driveway measured in at about 12 to 14. I had to stay home from work because I was literally snowed in, and that is very unusual, especially since we are pretty much ready for big storms around here. I looked out my window this morning and almost no one was driving (we were actually advised to stay off of the roads today). Road conditions were so bad last night that visibility was close to zero, and it took me close to three hours to get home from work. When we did get home, it was all I could do to get the car off of the street and into the driveway. At that point we were plain stuck because I couldn’t barrel over all the snow in the drive, even in a 4×4.
It’s a bit odd to think of global “warming” at a time like this, but it’s not so strange to see this as evidence of climate change. I’m reminded of Al Gore talking in “An Inconvenient Truth” about how climate patterns all over the world are becoming less predictable and more chaotic. In the middle of a long, hard blizzard that caused massive snow accumulation – I can see how new climate extremes are beginning to rear their ugly heads. Here are some photos to give you the full effect. The snow plow couldn’t get past my stuck car, so I had to shovel a small “path” just so we can walk down the driveway.
That storm created serious problems all along the eastern seaboard as well as colliding with a front that moved from the southeast. This caused extremly hazardous road conditions from Ohio throughout the state of Pennsylvania and further into the Northeast. Driving from Connecticut to Ohio even two days later, the National Guard had been set up in the state of Pennsylvania and drivers were stranded along Interstate 80. We have to become better prepared for the effects of Global Climate. The disaterous conditions will worsen into the future. We need leadership that addresses these matters or our nation will face dire consequences to our economy and infrastructure. Although the election in 2008 is many months away, it’s important now to seek leadership that stands up and supports environmental concerns as a primary issue.
Agreed, agreed. Unfortunately I am reminded of Al Gore saying that it usually takes something drastic before we “act.” Let’s hope that there’s enough concern and enough common ground reached between now and election 2008 to actually prevent disaster for a change.