(Associated Press / Hannah Foslien )Snow and ice cover highways, ground flights
By Patrick Condon
Associated Press / December 25, 2009
MINNEAPOLIS - A blustery storm spread snow and ice across the heartland yesterday as Americans rushed to get home for the holidays, grounding flights, stranding drivers on white-knuckle highways, and forcing churches to cancel Christmas Eve services.
“I don’t think God wants anyone to get killed or break a hip or break a knee or something,’’ said the Rev. Joseph Mirowski of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Transfiguration in Mason City, Iowa, where up to a foot of snow and sleet was expected.
A foot or two of snow was forecast in parts of the Plains and the Midwest by today. Blizzard warnings were issued for Minnesota, North Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin, and drivers were encouraged to pack emergency kits before setting out during what is normally one of the busiest travel periods of the year. The storm was also expected to cover highways in the East with ice today.
Slippery roads were blamed for at least 14 deaths this week as the slow-moving storm made its way across the country from the Southwest. Since Tuesday, icy roads have been blamed for accidents that killed at least seven people in Nebraska, four in Kansas, one each in Minnesota and Oklahoma, and one near Albuquerque.
High winds blowing snow across icy roads were a concern elsewhere. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol closed eastbound Interstate 40 in El Reno after numerous accidents, and the state’s National Guard was activated to rescue motorists stranded by collisions or spinouts along the H.E. Bailey Turnpike, which runs to the Texas state line.
Governor Rick Perry of Texas activated military personnel to help drivers, while Governor John Hoeven of North Dakota placed additional state troopers and the National Guard on standby.
Winds gusted to 40 miles per hour in central Kansas, and up to 60 miles per hour were forecast in Oklahoma. “The wind is killer, especially when you’re empty,’’ trucker Jim Reed said during a stop in Omaha, Neb. “Anything that’s boxed, like a refrigerator trailer like I have, becomes like a giant sail in the wind.’’
Tony Glaum of Leavenworth, Kan., was traveling with his wife and daughter to his parents’ home north of Manhattan. He said they were thinking about staying overnight rather than making their usual Christmas Eve trip back home.
Still, he said, he is looking forward to a white Christmas: “I think snow would be pretty nice.’’
Nearly 100 flights from the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport were canceled by midday. By late afternoon, though, a spokesman said most flights were getting out. The Oklahoma City airport shut down one of its three runways and canceled nearly 30 flights. Two-hour-plus delays were reported at Houston’s Hobby Airport, and Chicago’s O’Hare had hour-long delays and more than 30 cancellations.
Traditional Christmas Eve services were also put off.
The Rev. Roger Claxton canceled services at Grace Memorial Episcopal Church in Wabasha, Minn., after the area got at least 8 inches of snow. Claxton feared his congregation’s senior citizens would feel compelled to attend.
“I’d rather have people stay home than do their funerals in a couple weeks,’’ he said.
The Rev. Mark Kelm told parishioners to stay home if they didn’t feel safe, though he planned to hold services even if he was the only one there at St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church in White Bear Lake, a suburb of St. Paul, Minn.
“If I have to make it on cross-country skis, I’ll be here,’’ Kelm said. “The best way I can explain it is, it’s just like a pregnant woman - if the baby is coming, the baby is coming. For us, the Christ child is going to be celebrated.’’
Karen Scholten said her family would conduct a mini-service at home after the Eagle Grove, Iowa, church she has attended since 1965 canceled its Christmas Eve service for the first time she could recall.
“I’m sure we will read the Christmas story and listen to some Christmas hymns,’’ she said.
Source: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/12/25/slow_moving_storm_batters_the_midwest/
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