From Cambridge, to Easton, to Annapolis/Davidsonville and ultimately Millersville, this storm, (while short lived) started out as a disaster.
I had to make a trip to Millersville on Saturday evening and quite frankly there were no SHA vehicles o the roads clearing up anything. When I hit Cambridge the hail started coming down which eventually turned into heavy snow. The roads actually started freezing up very quickly and eventually changing lanes became impossible. Vehicles were slamming into concrete walls as well as sliding off the road. Fortunately there wasn't anyone seriously hurt.
Nevertheless, shame on SHA for not even attempting to throw down some sand and taking to risk of so many lives on the road. We pay taxes for such security, especially after a 1% Sales Tax increase in Maryland. I know, I know, it all goes to the Teachers, thanks O'Malley.
As I was driving down Rt 424 in Davidsonville, a tree started falling down into the road, (last photo above) and it was pretty cool. I was there right when it happened and was able to drive underneath it before it fell onto the roadway. There's NOTHING more beautiful than the open wilderness of virgin snow sticking to trees and the ground just before the sun sets.
I figured that this was going to come around....remember budget cuts? People wanted education and that is what they got. Unfortunately it was at the expense of other services - like snow removal. The people will never be satisfied with what gets cut in the budget.
ReplyDeleteI was in the Dover/Newark area when the snow started and had no problems at all. In the span of 5 mins I saw several DelDot snow plows out spreading salt and plowing when necessary. DE didnt get as much snow as MD, but a little prep before the storm makes a HUGE difference. Seeing those plows out before the storm reminded me of my former home in IL where days before the storm they would be spraying bridges/overpasses to prevent freezing. Amazing how differently states govern themselves.
ReplyDeleteBTW Hail isnt what you saw. That was freezing rain/ice. Hail occurs during a t-storm and can be oddly shaped and vary in size.
Although there was no snow in the Georgetown area, I passed a bad accident near sussex tech around 11 pm Saturday night. The roads were a little slick but not visually so.
ReplyDelete8:58 so it is okay with you then that the safety of taxpayers is cut funding? I hate to inform you but the road preperation when dealing with snow on the eastern shore sucks. In Anne Arundel the secondary roads, for example 424, are not priority the highways come first, then secondary, finally residential is treated or cleared.
ReplyDeleteIt seems on the shore they wait until a specified number of accidents occur and then treat the roads where the accidents were!
any time of the year driving that route is noce but especialy right after a snowfall. have you seen the lights @ Homestead Gardens yet? absolutely beautiful. i miss living out there.
ReplyDeleteI love that light is finally being shed on the boe's expenses. Here in Wic Co, they finally admitted that BOE employees did not get days off without pay. Until now, Pollit, and other county good old boys said that all employees got furloughed. Nope, BOE got fat raises. And the education quality is still poor!
ReplyDeleteJust remember, there are less cops working now because of this. And we wonder why crime has spiked?
11:51 you are exactly right about snow removal on the shore. Its just like most other public services around here, slow and half-a$$ed. SPD rarely solves crimes, the road crews paint over leaves on the road and snow removal sucks. Most of the time snow doesnt even get removed on main roads around here, its pathetic considering the taxes we pay. My former home in IL had property taxes that were comparable to my home here but I had city water/sewer, good police presence, good snow removal, sidewalks and street lights. I moved here and see just how much better my hometown was at pretty much every public service. Just like the high crime this sort of stuff is sept under the rug because its "laid back" here, lol.
ReplyDelete9:47 The only hope I can see for any real positive change is the old ones that are perfectly content with the way things are being aged out of offices. It's really sad when they see things through those rose colored glasses and it distorts the reality in such a drastic way.
ReplyDeleteSince I have been here I have watched perfectly good buildings being shut up rather than transformed to offer after school activities and homework help. Also community centers that never seem to open unless it in some way offers a photo op or some money maker. I am not really sure what the point is in community centers if they are not used for the community!
Regulations that state what a persons house must look like and how tall the residents grass can be. That is accompanied with warnings the town will hire someone to get the property to code and charge the property owner for the services. However a quick drive past the town hall and it is obvious they do not practice what they preach with the green algae growing on the side of the building and the wasp sworming the playground. We are told the town water is safe, yet the town council and the mayor have bottled water delivered to their homes! Claims of not having enough money to run a town, yet thousands of dollars are wasted to create a tourist attraction in a town that offers nothing for tourists!
It is a real shame so many wonderful little towns on the shore are being destroyed by greedy egotistical liars that are placed in positions of power only because the good ole boys have been sure to keep them there for the kick backs of doing so.
It's only a matter of time as the economy and state responsibilty grows that there will be crack downs and when it happens I hope I am still here to witness it.