January 27, 2016
An Open Letter to Public Safety Professionals and Others:
Having grown up in Virginia, I can’t say I’ve been exposed to too many storms in my life which compare to the one we just had. Thirty-six hours of snow! Wow!
In getting ready personally for the snow, I had lots of details to manage, just as you all did. Could I get wood delivered in time so that I could use the fireplace insert to stay warm if we lost power? Do I have enough of the essentials at my house if I can’t get out, including the all-important dog food? How will I get out my long up-and-downhill driveway if we get 30-40” of snow? Do I have salt, a snow shovel, a windshield scraper in my car, and a supply of drinking water?
All in all, we fared well in Frederick County and the City of Winchester. Very few, if any, lost power. Local government and businesses closed down after the storm to give VDOT and City crews time to plow and clear the streets and sidewalks. Life goes on.
We are now past the worst of this storm. I know that while I was keeping the fire going at my house, getting my driveway clear, and making chili, there were tons of folks out in the weather keeping the rest of us safe and warm, regardless of what they needed to do at their homes. There were folks who spent the night at work or in hotels nearby, as they HAD to report to work regardless of conditions. There are many who do not get snow days!
On behalf of the County of Frederick but also personally, I want to extend my thanks to the Public Safety Professionals in the Sheriff’s Offices and Police Department, Public Communications Offices, and Fire and Rescue Departments (including the volunteers) of the County of Frederick and the City of Winchester for the HOURS of work and the dedication which they poured into managing the many crises which occurred during this time. I would also like to thank the VDOT crews and the County and City staff who cleared roads, sidewalks, and parking garages of the snow and drifts so the rest of us could get to work and go about our personal and professional lives. Thanks also to professionals who kept water and sewer systems going, who were prepared to respond in case we lost electricity, who made sure medical care was available for those whose medical needs could not wait for clear streets, and who made sure the animals in shelters were cared for. I am grateful for school bus drivers who make sure our children and grandchildren get to school safely once schools reopen.
Most of the work of these folks is done behind the scenes, and most of the time we are not even aware of their sacrifices. So, I want to thank them all for that dedication to the greater public good. Personally, I am grateful to be living in such a wonderful, caring community, with dedicated professionals who make sure the rest of us are warm and safe and who provide emergency assistance when we need it, no matter the conditions.
Lastly, thanks to neighbors who helped neighbors, folks who provided assistance to complete strangers, and thoughtful people who checked on elderly or shut-in neighbors. Thanks to all the kind-hearted folks who help just because it’s needed.
Thank you!
Respectfully yours,
Brenda Garton
Frederick County Administrator
