How many days have you lost to snow or other inclement weather?

[JaneYoung]

Would anyone be interested in sharing what it takes to keep things running in communities that are hobbled or that come to a complete standstill and don't have what they need when hit by massive snowstorms? What helps and what doesn't? I really have no idea.

Jane

[JoshD]

We surprisingly lost a day today. Woke up at 6 to a total white out, and high school students already on their way or at school got stuck as everything shut down and canceled. It was bad, roads everywhere came to a stand still as accidents racked up.

Now there's a better and better chance for something Saturday and Monday. Can we have spring now? Pleeeeeeeease?

And to answer your question Jane, the problem is man power. VDOT does not have the man power, or the budget, to support road clearing on it's own. They have been hiring out to outside contractors, and same with some counties now. But budgets are extremely tight, which is hindering efforts. If we got snow like this once a year, they might be more prepared, but we don't get snow like this very often, so they are normally not prepared. The best thing people can possibly do to help speed up the process of clearing the roads is to stay off them. But of course, that doesn't happen.

[Wetzel]

Northern Virginia was into the snowiest winter since records have been kept before this current storm hit, which is bringing another 10 inches or so. Snow crews have been running just about 24-7 for a week now, and that is taking its toll on crew and equipment. DC has about 25% of their plows down needing maintenance. For an area that doesn't get this much snow, with 34 inches last week and another 10 this week, roofs are becoming a concern. A Smithsonian warehouse collapsed in Maryland. My parents street had been plowed once until last night, when farm equipment came through. Fortunately, there is an empty house on the street, which now has 10 feet of snow for most of the driveway and it isn't in the street anymore.

There is a lot of snow out there, stay safe.

Wetzel

[AnibaS]

As students, we love snow days and holidays. As competitors, they're our worst nightmares! Even when school isn't closed, our admin cancel all after school activities, and that means no shop! We have lost some serious time this year, and are quite behind! But this is what pits were made for =]

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

Would anyone be interested in sharing what it takes to keep things running in communities that are hobbled or that come to a complete standstill and don't have what they need when hit by massive snowstorms? What helps and what doesn't? I really have no idea.

Jane

LOL-Jane, I interpreted your question as it relates to FIRST. What it takes to keep things running is a whole other conversation!

Jane, I don't have many answers. What I have is a historical perspective. In 2003 I was mentoring a team that lost 11 days of school because of blizzards. FIRST did extend the build period by a couple of days, but didn't help anyone in this area because we still couldn't access the school. It was the year where the offensive robot became a defensive robot, as partially built manipulators were placed in the crate with high hopes for a miracle and a lot of work to be done on Thursday at the event. It didn't happen. It was the year of the 2x4 robot. The team optimistically painted the wood black, hoping to mask what was really surrounding the base.The team was demoralized, to add to a litany of woes over the previous weeks. No awards were won, until the robot got to the off-season where they were in the winning alliance at the Maryland State Fair which was a blast and still is in my top 10 memories of great times in FRC.
The team also was invited to a special recognition ceremony at the school board. The seniors graduated and went on to do great things, and some are still involved in FIRST.

It became just "one of those years."

The Mid-Atlantic is experiencing storms that have set all records. Baltimore is pretty much paralyzed with streets still not passable from the storm, the one with 30 ", 5 days ago. There is a blizzard going on now as I write this. The state has asked no one to travel, except for emergency vehicles. It is extremely dangerous. All schools have been canceled until at least the beginning of next week.

I have no answers on how to make this fair for all. What would be a reasonable extension to the build? 1 day? 1 week? What would happen with shipping? Certainly, the local folks planning the local regionals (DC/Chesapeake/Virginia) understand what we are all going through. We are all in this together.

It's not fair, but FIRST on so many levels is not fair.

I have seen some local websites where teams are communicating remotely. Students will have to be coping with school work, exams, applications and catching up as well with school whenever they get back to school. The really important stuff.

My only advice is to keep a sense of humor, put this in perspective and take comfort in that although this is a competition, we are all in it together.