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HCA 415: Community and Public Health Online Scenario #4: “Snowmageddon” The Scenario

Climate change is wreaking havoc on the nation this winter. Cold temperatures and predominant

winds from the northwest have created a dip in the jet stream in January. The wind is bringing cold and

moisture from Canada into the central United States. Snow has blanketed several states, including those

states that rarely receive snowfall – let alone in numbers that are measurable. The bulk of the snow fell

over the third week in January. Here are some of the totals from this storm as compared to the average

annual totals:

State Storm Totals Average Annual*

Montana 30 38

Wyoming 32 91

Colorado 38 19

North Dakota 54 51

South Dakota 54 44

Nebraska 47 26

Kansas 44 15

Oklahoma 32 8

Texas 20 1.5

*Average yearly snowfall by American state. National Climate Data Center information obtained from https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/US/average-snowfall-by-state.php

It is now the last week in January, and it is still snowing with another ten inches expected in higher

elevations with four to six inches expected for most areas in the path of the storm. However, most of the

United States has already been largely affected by this storm. Furthermore, some of the southeastern states

outside of the snow area are receiving precipitation in the form of ice and heavy rain, making roadways

slippery and unpassable. People across the nation have coined this week-long event “Snowmageddon.”

Many of the northern states such as Wyoming and the Dakotas are used to handling snow and are

managing, although the storm totals are quite large for what they typically receive each year (see chart

above). It is the central and southern states that are struggling as they are not equipped to handle such a

storm event. Those areas are Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

To date, there have been ten confirmed deaths – all in the central/southern locales. Two in

Nebraska, four in Kansas, one in Oklahoma, and three in Texas. All state roads across the affected states

have been closed; however, the highway patrol suspects hundreds, if not thousands, are either stranded

from the storm or trapped under the snowfall. Millions are without electricity and heavy snow has caused

many roofs to collapse, trapping people in their homes or businesses. There are reports of whole towns

being completely under snowfall (although this is not yet confirmed). It is unclear the amount of damage

caused; however, it is estimated to be in the billions. Volunteers are calling in from outside the affected

area to help; however, they are unable to enter the affected states to help. Resources from affected states

are overwhelmed. The U.S. President has declared nearly all of the United States as major disaster areas,

allowing federal aid to support local and state efforts.

While the snow is slowing, it is still coming down. Therefore, there are concerns that when the

snow starts to melt in the spring, there will be extreme flooding causing yet another disaster in these

sections of the country.

Your Review: What do you tell your public? Factor out the issues and follow protocol to formulate your

response to the discussion question and public service announcement.

Resources: Current Results Publishing Ltd. (2018) Average yearly snowfall by American state. [Website]. Retrieved

from https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/US/average-snowfall-by-state.php Toolboss.com. (n.d.). Average Snowfall by State. [Website]. Retrieved from

https://thetoolboss.com/average-snowfall-us-states/