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BAD WEATHER MEMORIES: NORTH COUNTRY ICE STORM 98
Seeing all these snow and winter storm warning tweets reminded us of an event from the recent past of the XVIII Airborne Corps.
BAD WEATHER MEMORIES: NORTH COUNTRY ICE STORM 98
Seeing all these snow and winter storm warning tweets reminded us of an event from the recent past of the XVIII Airborne Corps.
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23 years ago (January, 1998), a massive ice storm shut down Fort Drum and the surrounding community for weeks, closing roads and cutting power to Watertown, NY.
23 years ago (January, 1998), a massive ice storm shut down Fort Drum and the surrounding community for weeks, closing roads and cutting power to Watertown, NY.
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Heavy ice accumulated quickly, pulling down trees and causing property damage.
Fort Drum turned to backup generators to continue operating.
Heavy ice accumulated quickly, pulling down trees and causing property damage.
Fort Drum turned to backup generators to continue operating.
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The government instituted a curfew; no one was supposed to leave the house unless authorized (this guy did anyway).
The government instituted a curfew; no one was supposed to leave the house unless authorized (this guy did anyway).
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Those who did venture out were not going to get far; downed trees blocked most of the roads.
Those who did venture out were not going to get far; downed trees blocked most of the roads.
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Our 10th Mountain Division halted training and focused on support to the local community, building shelters in on-post gyms and conference rooms.
Our 10th Mountain Division halted training and focused on support to the local community, building shelters in on-post gyms and conference rooms.
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Staff duty and CQ NCOs became emergency coordinators, organizing for medical support and answering calls from residents while monitoring these ad hoc shelters.
Staff duty and CQ NCOs became emergency coordinators, organizing for medical support and answering calls from residents while monitoring these ad hoc shelters.
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Our 10th Mountain troops put down their rifles and picked up axes, moving out into Watertown and Potsdam to chop down trees.
Our 10th Mountain troops put down their rifles and picked up axes, moving out into Watertown and Potsdam to chop down trees.
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Once chopped down, fallen trees were loaded onto trucks.....
Once chopped down, fallen trees were loaded onto trucks.....
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....and dropped off at central sites in Watertown, such as the Church of God, where residents cut them down further for clearance and removal.
....and dropped off at central sites in Watertown, such as the Church of God, where residents cut them down further for clearance and removal.
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Watertown had no power, no heat. People who could not leave their homes were in danger of freezing.
10th Mountain Division units like 1-87 Infantry sent teams out into the community to provide power generation and mobile kitchens.
Watertown had no power, no heat. People who could not leave their homes were in danger of freezing.
10th Mountain Division units like 1-87 Infantry sent teams out into the community to provide power generation and mobile kitchens.
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Lawson Magruder III was the 10th Mountain Division commander back then. He gave daily press briefings, informing the local community of the operations.
Lawson Magruder III was the 10th Mountain Division commander back then. He gave daily press briefings, informing the local community of the operations.
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We spoke this morning with Jody Marsh, a Watertown resident who remembers the 1998 ice storm. "We had a little warning, but it was about rain and sleet. That happens all the time here, so we didn't think it was that big a deal."
This is a pic from her house, Jan 1998
We spoke this morning with Jody Marsh, a Watertown resident who remembers the 1998 ice storm. "We had a little warning, but it was about rain and sleet. That happens all the time here, so we didn't think it was that big a deal."
This is a pic from her house, Jan 1998
[END]
Ice Storm 98 was a short-duration crisis for North Country. It was also a moment in which the 10th Mountain Division rushed forward to support its local community.
Ice Storm 98 was a short-duration crisis for North Country. It was also a moment in which the 10th Mountain Division rushed forward to support its local community.
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