Arkansas's 2009 Ice Storm
On the 24th and 25th of January, 2009 a cold front stayed along the Gulf Coast, with cold and dry conditions north of the front in Arkansas. Later a storm system approached from southern plains driving precipitation northward over the front causing the worst ice storm in Arkansas history. Due to a drop in temperatures, ice accumulations occurred on power lines and trees. At least 30,000 power poles were down in Arkansas. 18 casualties were recorded due to traffic accidents, hypothermia and carbon monoxide. The sheets of ice that covered the area in January 2009 left over 100,000 people without power, some who didn’t see electricity restored for nearly two weeks.
According to NBC news, thousands of acres of downed trees took clean up crews over three months to remove, and damages were recorded at $500 million, mostly due to restoring electric utilities. A cooperatives spokesman Rob Roedal said, "The amount of line that was restored through this in the past weeks would go from here to Los Angeles.” President Barack Obama declared 29 Arkansas counties disaster areas in February, sending in federal funds.
References
Fayettville Flyer. (2013, December 4). Remembering the 2009 ice storm in Fayetteville. Retrieved from https://www.fayettevilleflyer.com/2013/12/04/remembering-the-2009-ice-storm-in-fayetteville/
NBC News. (2009, February 25). Ark. ice storm bill estimated at $500 million. Retrieved from http://www.nbcnews.com/id/29387424/ns/weather/t/ark-ice-storm-bill-estimated-million/#.W7sDXGhKjD4
NWS. (n.d.). NWS Little Rock, AR - Ice Storm on January 26-28, 2009 (Pg1). Retrieved from https://www.weather.gov/lzk/win0109ayr.htm
Juan, nice blog. I remember this ice storm when it hit KY, too. Sometimes I think back about the ice storms of my childhood and realize that simimilar weather conditions wouldn't be as crippling here because Minnesotan infrastructure and people are equipped to deal with wintery weather. However, this particular ice storm was nasty and I've never seen that much ice anywhere else again.
ReplyDeleteNice job! It's interesting because my first reaction to the second photo was thinking that it looked beautiful. Being from Minnesota, this sort of thing wouldn't suprise me at all to wake up to, so it was suprising and enlightening to read about the destruction ice can cause in a place that isn't equipped for it.
ReplyDeleteNice job, Juan- Super interesting blog! Being from California, I was completely oblivious to ice storms and the damages it can cause! How does someone prepare for ice storms; is this something that is generally taught in schools in Arkansas? I would also love to learn more about the aftermath of the storm. In your blog, you mentioned a few of the physical and financial damages that the ice storm incurred. I was just wondering about some of the other destruction and recovery efforts after the ice storm. Were there any other damages to any of the infrastructures? Is there any long-term harm on the environment?
ReplyDeleteCool topic! Being from the Twin Cities, I can't remember the last time we had power outages from ice accumulations. In fact, after saying that, I'm wondering if our power lines are somehow constructed to resist ice buildup. Anyways, I'm also curious about what public services were provided in response to the long (2 week) losses of power. Were shelters opened? If there were schools/libraries/other public buildings that still had operating utilities, were people temporarily housed in these locations?
ReplyDeleteGood blog post! I've never experienced an ice storm with that magnitude before! In Iowa, we get several ice storms a year, but I've never seen something that severe! Is this the first time something like this has happened in your hometown or has anything similar occurred since? Has your town adapted and become better prepared for another possible storm like this? It was really interesting to read!
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