I’m just curious what happens in a case like this. I’m watching my street, one of the main thoroughfares in DC, become more and more covered with snow, to the point that it seems that they’ve given up on salting/plowing it regularly. A plow goes by every once in a while, but not like the other times this season.
What are the security implications of weather like this? Does Capitol Hill get special plow attention? Does the President have to stay home like the rest of us? (I’m guessing the answer is no, since I think I saw that he addressed a group of democrats this afternoon.)
A snow blower isn’t going to be much good if the President needs to get from the White House to across the city. You need a snow PLOW (see: OP’s question) for such a thing.
cnn showed the national park service taking care of the grounds and paths of the white house.
i’m betting there will be lots of sledding, snowball fights, and snow building going on with the first family. they have quite the lawn to roll around in.
The question isn’t “is there at least one snow plow in the District of Columbia?” it’s “is there a snow plow specifically designated for the President?” Like a Snow Plow One that ensures that the President’s planned route is clear when there’s severe snow.
One would assume that between the US Park Service, the DC Public Works Department, the Secret Service and the GSA they make sure that at any given time the way is clear for the Prez and other key figures to get where they’re going one way or the other.
Seriously, is it a good idea risking the President on slick roads? A photo of the Presidential limo in a snowbank would be front page news for a week. As powerful as he is, even the Prez has to respect blizzards. It takes time to clear roads. Even if he has his own plow.
They actually place portable platforms for helicopters so the White House lawn doesn’t get damaged by landing wheels, according to a National Geographic documentary I saw about Marine One. Can’t see why those wouldn’t work on snow as well if necessary, though I wouldn’t want to be the one carrying them out there.
Then, too, driving on snow isn’t impossible, as everyone around here knows. By the end of winter, the road in front of my apartment is usually packed to about an inch above the height of the curb, and folks still drive it. I imagine that driving in such conditions is covered in the super-elite Secret Service driving training.
Your profile says you’re from Arkansas. I can assure you that driving in the snow is not as treacherous as people in warmer climates make it out to be.
I’ve plowed through 20+ inches of snow in plain ol’ normal cars, most recently a friend of mine’s Cadillac.
We get 200+ inches of snow here many winters, and I can never remember any major streets being closed. In fact, the only street in town that’s ever closed due to weather is one street right down next to the lake that tends to get snow/water blown off the lake onto it during storms, and that’s closed just as often in summer (due to water) as it is in winter (due to snow.)
Kinda funny, east coast gets 30 F degree temps and 2 feet of snow and it’s national news. We get -30 F degree temps and 2 feet of snow and it’s just the weather segment on the local news.
The East Coast doesn’t do it this way. All roads are plowed, sanded, and often salted. Main roads are done at least once an hour during the storm. Perhaps they get kickbacks from the salt companies and the Teamsters are concerned that they won’t get enough overtime.
This is one of the reasons why the East Coast panics when it snows. It’s also why they call it the Rust Belt. Hard-packed snow is relatively easy to drive on. Plowed roads have irregular traction and they ice over wherever they aren’t warmed by the friction of tires.
