With temperatures in single digits, everyone is talking about the weather. How cold was it this morning? What is the wind chill? Who do I call to thaw out frozen pipes?
Most people are trying to stay inside as much as possible, however, some have to brave the cold to work.
UPS driver Hadley Arnett is one of those who has to work outside, despite the weather conditions.
“I dress with lots of layers with double socks," Arnett said. "Last Friday, I had on a base layer, work shirt, two sweatshirts, a work coat, neck gator and stocking hat.”
Arnett added, “And lots of coffee, I just keep moving. I didn’t realize how cold I actually was until I started warming up when I got home. It has been pretty brutal.”
Farmers have an especially difficult job as they are tasked with taking care of their animals regardless of the temperatures outside.
“My cattle have been consuming nearly twice as much hay with these frigid temperatures,” said Fristoe farmer Richard Vaughn. “Hay is hard to come by, and expensive due to last year’s drought. I’ll be selling feeder calves soon to conserve hay. We are fortunate enough to have a few wet weather springs that are running but still having to chop ice on a couple ponds to provide water to other herds. Near electricity, I have bottle calves, hogs, piglets and chickens. I have been using heat lamps and tank de-icers to help along with makeshift enclosures and lots of hay.”
Another Benton County farmer, Kerri Johnson-Wittman said keeping warm is important.
“Layer up and keep the truck warm," Wittman-Johnson exclaimed! "It's as simple as that; just so I’m dressed for the tasks at hand out in the frigid cold, and a place I can jump into quickly and warm up.”
Farmers also have to deal with their animals giving birth during this extremely cold winter.
Benton County farmer Katie Johnson is dealing with baby goats.
“We are having goat kids right now. We have had to create a goat nursery in our old dairy barn that has a stove where the babies can go in and get warm," Johnson said. "We also created a wind barrier using hay bales to help as well. We are also constantly having to break ice to give the livestock water. We also moved cattle down to the valley areas to help them stay warm.”
Warsaw Veterinary Clinic tech Ramie Henderson-Boone reminded others to take care of their animals during this very cold weather.
“With these extremely low temps, it’s a necessity to constantly check on pets and livestock,” she said. "As I work with the large animal side at the clinic, there’s several owners with cows calving right now. They are constantly having to check cows and bring new calves in out of the elements to keep them from freezing to death.”
It is also important to check on our friends and neighbors during the winter.
“During these severe cold periods it is important for people to check in on their neighbors, offer to do chores or run errands. I was glad to see the First Baptist Church of Clinton open their Calvary Hall location for a warming center. Neighbors looking out for each other,” said Missouri Representative Rodger Reedy.
Pro Electric General Foreman Loren Vaughn reported that he limited the amount of work his people do outside during this cold weather.
“I limit the amount of work we do outside if it can be avoided," Vaughn stated. "A close place to warm up, and a heater with a windbreak helps a lot as well. There is no good way to deal with the negative temperatures.”
Those delivering the mail also have to work regardless of the weather conditions. Rodney Johnson has to deliver the mail despite the cold. According to Johnson his main concern is the fuel in the mail truck freezing and the truck not being able to run.
“Being on the dock in Sedalia sorting mail at 5:00 AM gets a bit cold too,” said Johnson.
Being prepared for working in cold weather is important for those in the service industry. Heath Cunningham of H&C Plumbing and Electric in Warsaw has been working day in and day out to help people during this difficult time.
Cunningham also prepared for the cold weather by purchasing heated gloves and jackets for his workers. H&C has four vans with workers running every day to unthaw pipes and restore power to their customers.
“It is important to keep water at a steady stream, especially at night when the temperature drops so low,” said Cunningham. “Installing space heaters in crawl spaces and insulating pipes is another way to keep pipes from freezing.”
However, the Division of Fire Safety urges caution as temperatures across Missouri plunge well below freezing for an extended period and more residents turn to space heaters and supplemental heating sources to provide additional heat in their homes. Most years, space heaters account for about one-third of home heating fires and 80 percent of heating fire deaths. Overloaded extension cords, power strips and generators also pose danger.
“During extremely cold weather, more people turn to space heaters and other heating sources to supplement their heating systems,” State Fire Marshal Tim Bean said. “Many do not understand the risks these devices can pose when misused. We’re reminding folks to follow manufacturer instructions and basic fire safety rules, including having smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in their homes.”
Remember these safety tips whenever heating equipment is used:
• Turn off portable heaters whenever leaving the room or going to bed;
• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment. The three-foot safety zone includes furniture, drapes and electronics – anything that can burn;
• Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters;
• Do not overload extension cords or outlets. Many extension cords and power strips are not designed to handle the load of an electric heater. Never place an electrical cord under a rug, to prevent the cord from overheating and causing a fire;
• Never use an oven or other cooking devices to heat your home;
• Never use an outdoor propane heater indoors;
• Make sure your home has working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms by testing them monthly;
• Every home should be equipped with a fire extinguisher.
Space heaters are the leading cause of home fires in the months of December, January and February, according to the National Fire Protection Association. They are designed to supplement a primary heating system in limited spaces in a residence.
Despite all the pain and suffering the cold weather brings, according to Daniel Yoder of the Church of the Living Water, everyone must persevere.
“One of my friends once told me to 'Embrace the suck', then it dawned on me that is kind of scriptural… James 1:2-4 NIV says, 'consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, [3] because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. [4] Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything'."
The pastor added, "Weather is just another trial, and through this trial the weather will help me learn how to persevere; when weather is really bad it means even more perseverance.”
