Print this page
October 02, 2020

LOOKING BACK: Winter Storm Atlas Memories; Anniversary Is Time To Plan For Winter Season

Winter Storm Atlas hit the area October 3-5, 2013. This scene is near the Lacrosse Street Walmart.  The Atlas anniversary is an opportunity to begin planning for the upcoming winter season. Winter Storm Atlas hit the area October 3-5, 2013. This scene is near the Lacrosse Street Walmart. The Atlas anniversary is an opportunity to begin planning for the upcoming winter season. (City File Photo)

A LOOK BACK...AND LOOKING AHEAD....

WINTER STORM ATLAS 2013

It was seven years ago this month, the weather system named 'Winter Storm Atlas' or 'The Great Blizzard of 2013' or 'The Cattlemen's Blizzard' devastated the region. The Thursday-Saturday storm (Oct. 3-5, 2013) resulted in considerable damage with downed power lines and trees, which had not yet dropped their leaves and broke under the weight of the heavy snows. There were considerable livestock deaths through the region as well.

Local residents will remember the massive mounds of trees that were brought to Fitzgerald Stadium, Central States Fairgrounds and other locations for grinding and removal.

This anniversary date is also an opportunity for citizens to review and prepare for the winter season: find that ice scraper, check your tire pressure and quality of tires, make sure you have a set of jumper cables, check the antifreeze and quality of your battery, etc.

The Atlas anniversary is a good opportunity to get that winter travel survival kit together for your car and assemble items in your home should you be homebound for a few days due to winter weather or you experience an extended power outage. Get the snow blower fired up or find the snow shovel.

Now may be the time to inquire with a neighbor or make arrangements for snow removal around your home if you are unable to remove snow due to age or disability. Or check with an elderly or disabled neighbor if you can assist them with their snow removal.

Below is information on City snow removal policies, messages from City officials and other important information:

SNOW REMOVAL POLICY (STREETS):  The goal is to provide the motorist with the safest driving surface possible, in an efficient and economical manner, with the resources available.  Initial service of streets during a snow/ice incident will be applications of sand, salt, liquid de-icer or a combination of these products.  To reduce the amount of material used, flat level streets are not treated unless a special situation should exist.  Other accepted chemicals may be used for maximum effectiveness.

            Streets will be treated in the following order of priority:

            *All arterial and emergency routes along with those streets having steep grades or other hazardous geometry and major intersections.  Examples include Fifth Street to Rapid City Regional Hospital, Omaha Street, Mount Rushmore Road, Fairmont Boulevard, Saint Patrick Street, Jackson Boulevard, Sheridan Lake Road, Canyon Lake Drive.

            *Collector and sub-collector streets and school routes.

            *Residential streets.

SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL (SIDEWALKS):  Per City Ordinance 12.12.090, it is the duty of the homeowner to keep the sidewalk(s) fronting or abutting a lot, parcel or plot of ground free from snow and ice at all times.  When it is impossible to take the snow and ice from the walk by reason of it be being frozen to the sidewalk, the owner or occupant shall sprinkle or spread suitable material to prevent the walk from becoming slippery and dangerous to travel.  Sidewalks that are not kept free from snow and ice are declared a nuisance, and upon the failure, neglect or refusal to comply, the owner or occupant may be held in violation.  If the snow and ice is not removed within 24 hours, the City can have the area cleared of snow and ice with the costs assessed to the property.

            **People who experience difficulties shoveling or maintaining their sidewalks during the winter due to a disability, age, etc. are advised to make preparations before the winter season to line up assistance for such tasks.

CITY PLOWING POLICY:  Snow plowing incidents will be divided into three levels of service.  The service level will be determined by the Director of Public Works or his designee.

            *Level A Response (approximately 2-4 inches of snow depth): This  level of service will include the plowing of all arterial streets, emergency routes, streets with steep grades and other hazardous geometry, collector streets and major intersections.  May include downtown snow removal.

            *Level B Response (approximately 4-6 inches of snow depth):  Sub-collector streets and some high traffic residential streets will be plowed in addition to those streets covered in 'Level A Response'.  Included in this service will be downtown snow removal.  Some work may be contracted with the private sector.

            *Level C Response (greater than 6 inches of snow depth):  All remaining Rapid City streets.  Contractors will be hired so this service may be completed in the shortest period of time possible.

            Driveway entrances will not be opened by City crews under routine plowing operations.  City policy will be to remove snow from sidewalks on public bridges and from curb side sidewalks located on streets with four or more traffic lanes, on a predominantly residential street and on a school pedestrian route.  This work will only be done after street plowing operations have been completed.

            City crews plow streets from curb to curb to maintain surface drainage.

FUN FACTS: 

            *The City Streets Department has over 50 pieces of equipment related to snow removal.  Combined with resources from the City's Parks Department, the City's Solid Waste Division and Rapid City Regional Airports, there are over 100 pieces of equipment that can be utilized at various City properties during a particular snow event.

            *The City is divided into 19 different snow routes.

            *There are over 400 miles of streets in Rapid City.  Most of the streets are multi-lane with two, three and four-lanes of traffic.  Stretching out the lanes and the 400 miles expands considerably.   During a particular snow event, City crews can be traveling a distance from Rapid City to California and back.

            *No snow 'event' is the same.  Each event brings its own unique weather characteristics.  City officials begin preparing for each snow event days in advance. 

            *Crews keep equipment maintained well in advance of the winter season.  Chemical compound is purchased months in advance.

            Here are important messages from:

            *RAPID CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT: Interim Fire Chief Rod Seals asks the following from residents and visitors of Rapid City and the surrounding area:  When advisories are issued, like “no travel advised”, please heed the warning for your own safety and of those that count on you.  If you don’t need to go out, please don’t.  If you must travel, be prepared.  A winter travel kit in your vehicle can come in handy even if you are traveling in and around the City.  (extra clothing, water, blankets, food, shovel, ice scraper, phone charger, etc).  Maintain your vehicle for winter travel.  (tires, wipers, battery, antifreeze, etc.)

            *RAPID CITY REGIONAL AIRPORT: If the airport is closed, personnel will alert the media.  If the runway is closed, updates are provided through their website and social media.  Airlines may sometimes cancel or delay flights based on conditions even if the runway is open so airport officials always recommend the public to check with the specific airline regarding flight status.

            *PENNINGTON COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: You should carry a winter storm kit in your vehicle.  The kit should contain: sleeping bags or blankets, matches and candles, winter clothing, food, first-aid kit, pocket knife, flashlight and radio with extra batteries for each, a bag of sand and shovel, tire chains and tools, windshield scraper, battery jumper cables, and two coffee cans.  Small supplies can be kept in the coffee cans and when you are stranded, one can be used for personal sanitation needs and the other to burn the candles in for heat.  When burning a candle, leave a down-wind window slightly open for air circulation and ventilation.  Carbon monoxide poisoning can happen without the victim being aware of it until it's too late.

 Snow Plow Route Map (1.04 MB)

 Snow Exchange Map (883 KB)

 Downtown Snow Removal Map (104 KB)