Written by: Rebecca Straits (Rjs006@marietta.edu)
From January 24th through the 26th, North America was hit by a catastrophic snowstorm. The snow, sleet, and freezing rain led to power outages, freezing temperatures, and dangerous road conditions across the country, and Ohio was no exception.
Here in Marietta, nightly temperatures got just below the negatives with about 1 foot of snow, leading
to the college and surrounding schools closing. (The Weather Channel, n.d.) Marietta College was closed for one day with asynchronous learning for some continuing throughout the week. While local school districts had two hour delays up until this week.
As for the living situation on campus, many students were without hot water and heat. Or water in general, as some residents of Harrison Hall had their pipes freeze early in the storm. Many students had their vehicles trapped in snow and ice in the parking lots. However, the Marietta College Police Department kept patrolling to help students free their vehicles.
The storm caused an uproar of panic as people rushed to stores to prepare, most notably in the
South. Stores across the Southern states were cleared out, but people had good reason to panic.
During the snowstorm in 2021 that also reached all the way down into Texas, 19 people died
from carbon monoxide poisoning after losing power and turned to things such as cars to stay
warm (Hellerstedt, 2021). Power outages are already a problem during any storm, but adding
freezing temperatures to the mix is deadly.
The snowstorm was not all doom and gloom though, as many saw the storm as an opportunity. Here on the Marietta College campus, you could find college students and community members alike sledding down the hill next to Mills Hall and the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center, making snow angels, building snowmen, and having snowball fights.
As temperatures start to get back up as we move into February, it is still important to stay warm. Especially since we are projected to have six more weeks of winter. Check the weather in the morning and wear appropriate clothing such as multiple layers, long pants, a winter jacket, gloves, a hat and/or earmuffs, and boots as the ground is still snowy and icy.
For more about the weather here in Marietta, tune into WCMO-TV, the student run TV program
on channel 15, or YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WCMOTelevision
References-
Hellerstedt, J. (2021, December 31). February 2021 winter storm-related deaths – Texas Dec. 31, https://www.dshs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/news/updates/SMOC_FebWinterStorm_Mort
alitySurvReport_12-30-21.pdf
The Weather Channel. (n.d.). Monthly weather forecast for Marietta, Ohio 45750.
https://weather.com/weather/monthly/l/45750
Edited by: Zachary Worstell (zdw001@marietta.edu)
