Consequences of usual calls—slide-offs, accidents—higher in extreme cold
By Jen Clancey DIGITAL PRODUCER
Over the weekend of Jan. 13, Big Sky saw temps plummet to 20 below zero nightly, with wind chills of minus 40 in some areas. The weather event brought arctic conditions to Gallatin County and northern U.S. states. Gallatin County Sheriff’s Sergeant Dan Haydon explained that the extreme weather didn’t harbor unusual calls for Montana winter, but that because of the dangerous cold, those calls required more urgency because of the potential consequences.
“Ordinary calls become extraordinary during severe weather,” Haydon said on the phone this morning with EBS. “When we have this bad of weather, the consequences of sliding off or getting in a minor fender bender can be hugely higher, because the exposure you have when you get out of your car can be a lot more dangerous.”
If drivers find themselves in accidents or slide-offs, it’s important that they are “proactively staying warm,” according to Haydon. “It’s much more difficult to rewarm yourself if you’ve gotten cold,” he said. This means having extra coats, gloves and hats for cold temps on top of supplies like safety vests or road flares, food and water and a charged cell phone.
He emphasized that immediately working to stay warm in severe weather “can be the difference between maybe just having an uncomfortable time and having a dangerous event that turns into a medical event.”
Safe driving practices such as driving slower and looking further ahead for hazards is important too. “It’s all about that reactionary gap of being able to see a potential issue, understand what’s going on, and then make the decision to be able to safely control your vehicle,” Haydon said, referring to advice that drivers need to simplify their next move. “You can either turn or you can stop, but you can’t turn and stop at the same time.”
How Big Sky and Gallatin Valley can support neighbors, the community during extreme weather
“During these extreme weather events, we really need to all look out for each other,” Haydon said. He advised that if a driver sees a slide off or accident, they should contact the sheriff’s office when it is safe to do so, this way the sheriff’s office can attend to the incident as soon as possible.
But beside the more obvious signs of risk on the road, Haydon emphasized looking out for more vulnerable populations. “You also need to be thinking about your neighbors. Do you have an elderly neighbor who might need help with groceries, [or has] enough heaters to make sure that they can stay warm in their house?”
He recommends checking in to make sure that they are comfortable and safe at home.
Preparing for extreme cold in the future
Vehicle and home maintenance is important to address before extreme weather, such as replacing ineffective car batteries and making sure home heating systems work efficiently.
For now, Haydon described the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office staff dressed in layers, even inside, so they can respond as quickly as possible to calls. “If we do have to go out on the side of the road, we got plenty of layers on so that we can be effective in helping the public.”
