Snow Storm Causes Rash of Emergency Calls in Cameron
By: William Seay
Updated: December 21, 2012
(CAMERON, Mo.) It was a busy night for the Cameron Police Dept.
It was a busy day for the Cameron Police Dept.
The small "skeleton crew" have put in some long hours since the weather got nasty late Wednesday night.
The 12-20-12 winter storm hit the Midwest harder than any storm so far this season, and rural northwest Missouri was no exception.
"We had a lot of water and precipitation before the low pressure and cold front approached and really started affecting us. That water froze and MODOT and the local public works crews were out working. We had significant ice accumulation on major roadways," said Cameron police chief Corey Sloan.
Sloan, himself a storm chaser and weather enthusiast, praised the work of the National Weather Service and broadcast meteorologists in predicting a storm that produced nearly 3 inches of snow for his area, as well as violent winds that gusted in excess of 50mph.
It was the wind that made this storm special - blowing snow and creating visibilities so low that dozens of drivers couldn't make it through it all.
"I think the main message we want to get out is if it's not an emergency and you don't have to travel, let's no do it unless we've had our MODOT and public works crews are out and can get a good handle on the roadways and get some stuff cleared out," said Sloan, admitting that his staff got overwhelmed in the dangerous conditions.
"At one point I had to pull them all back. It was too dangerous."
Dozens of calls about drivers running off the road and getting stuck were mixed with a flood of other distress calls, like power outages.
"The weather affects our folks too, being able to get to and from - just like it does most employers. And we're just doing the best we can with what folks we have," Sloan said, adding that in order for his guys to do their best, they need drivers to take heed to the conditions and drive as slowly and carefully as possible in such treacherous conditions.
It was a busy day for the Cameron Police Dept.
The small "skeleton crew" have put in some long hours since the weather got nasty late Wednesday night.
The 12-20-12 winter storm hit the Midwest harder than any storm so far this season, and rural northwest Missouri was no exception.
"We had a lot of water and precipitation before the low pressure and cold front approached and really started affecting us. That water froze and MODOT and the local public works crews were out working. We had significant ice accumulation on major roadways," said Cameron police chief Corey Sloan.
Sloan, himself a storm chaser and weather enthusiast, praised the work of the National Weather Service and broadcast meteorologists in predicting a storm that produced nearly 3 inches of snow for his area, as well as violent winds that gusted in excess of 50mph.
It was the wind that made this storm special - blowing snow and creating visibilities so low that dozens of drivers couldn't make it through it all.
"I think the main message we want to get out is if it's not an emergency and you don't have to travel, let's no do it unless we've had our MODOT and public works crews are out and can get a good handle on the roadways and get some stuff cleared out," said Sloan, admitting that his staff got overwhelmed in the dangerous conditions.
"At one point I had to pull them all back. It was too dangerous."
Dozens of calls about drivers running off the road and getting stuck were mixed with a flood of other distress calls, like power outages.
"The weather affects our folks too, being able to get to and from - just like it does most employers. And we're just doing the best we can with what folks we have," Sloan said, adding that in order for his guys to do their best, they need drivers to take heed to the conditions and drive as slowly and carefully as possible in such treacherous conditions.
