FORT MONROE, Va. - Just about anyone who has lived in this area for a year or more can attest to the chaos that typically follows a winter storm.
Even a few inches of snow can create major traffic tie-ups, close schools and interrupt businesses throughout the region. Compound the problem with freezing temperatures, high winds and icy roads - a situation the Hampton Roads area experienced last January - and the conditions become downright hazardous.
During that particular storm, dozens of accidents occurred in a very short amount of time. As a safety precaution, Fort Monroe leaders authorized a two-hour delay in reporting to work, but there was no way to avoid the slippery and slushy conditions during the mid-morning commute.
"Awareness is clearly our most important tool in preparing the Fort Monroe family for the possible dangers of the much colder months ahead," said Lorenzo Riddick, Director of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security here. "We are susceptible to harsh winter weather, and the time has come for us to begin shifting our focus from hurricane season preparedness to winter storm preparedness."
Emphasizing the three main goals of the Ready Army Campaign - "Get a Kit, Make a Plan, Be Informed" - Riddick said installation workers and families should use these final weeks of fall to ensure their vehicles are ready for winter travel, come up with a game plan for early work or school dismissals, and know the emergency notification procedures for Fort Monroe.
"Have you ever driven in the snow' That's a real important question, and if the answer is no, you might want to consider a winter driving course. At a minimum, you should read up on the procedures for regaining control of your vehicle if it goes into a skid on icy roads," Riddick said.
"Vehicle maintenance also is important. Check the condition of your tires, windshield wipers and lights. Assemble a road emergency kit that contains road flares or reflectors, blankets and first aid supplies."
Making a list of emergency numbers is a good idea as well, the DPTMS Director noted. If you have a cell phone, program the information into your contacts list so it's easily accessible. Provide family contact information to your friends or coworkers if you're traveling to another winter storm area over the holidays.
"Have a plan ... that's the message here," Riddick stressed. "And keep in mind that we should be looking out for our families who may have a loved one deployed or away on extended TDY. Do they know who to contact if they need assistance during a winter storm' If you're not sure, maybe you should include them in your preparedness plan."
Riddick encourages military community members to always have a copy of their local disaster response guide and/or preparedness checklist handy. Fort Monroe has a pocket-sized manual that offers tips for creating a well-stocked family emergency response kit, definitions of weather related terms, explanations of shelter in place and emergency evacuation procedures, and much more. A lot of the information is posted on the installation's homepage at www.monroe.army.mil.
"Unfortunately, there is no way to accurately predict how bad the weather will get this winter, so the best approach is to be prepared for those worst-case situations like the December 2004 storm that dumped more than a foot of snow on this area within a two-day period," Riddick said.
"It's easy to think it won't happen or we're off the hook because we only have to worry about hurricanes during the summer and fall (hurricane season continues through Nov. 30)," he concluded. "Unfortunately, that's one of the biggest challenges faced by any emergency planning team; the belief that it's just not that big of a deal. That's the thought process the Ready Army campaign is meant to change."
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