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

[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.