Well, wasn't that surprise snowfall a lot of fun?

Forsyth MO - Sunday morning, February the 2^nd broke overcast and cold. Up in Springfield, at the National Weather Service, more than one meteorologist must have looked with growing concern at a snow shield that was quickly moving in to the Taney County area from the southwest. A winter weather advisory was issued, but many of the people who needed to see it were already heading out for church services.

By 9AM, as many were just arriving at their church of choice, a very light snow had begun to fall. Not really all that much at first, but then it started to come down steady and hard as the morning advanced. I sure a few took note and maybe headed for the exits to make their way home. They were the fortunate ones, as the door to safety was now swiftly closing. By 10 AM, I feel that door had closed and that perhaps hundreds were now effectively stranded (although they might not have been aware of it).

I suppose it will never be known how many places of worship decided to close early and let their flocks go home. What is sure is that by 11 PM the roads in and around Branson and Forsyth were now packed with vehicles all trying to get home. This at a time where the snow amounts were quickly exceeding two or more inches! Events unfolded so fast that snow plows could not respond quickly enough and so, by 11:30 AM the slide offs began to... well, snowball as it were. Those unfortunates combined with spin outs and wrecks to quickly clog up major access roads. A situation that hampered or prevented outright the ability of the plows to get through and stay ahead of the problems. Emergency services were likewise adversely affected and so hundreds and hundreds of people suddenly found themselves in dire straits.

How could this complete mess have been prevented or reduced? I think that the responsibility lies, in part at least, with the churches themselves. Or to put it another way, any establishment that attracts a large venue of people must be on extra high alert whenever inclement weather might strike. And, they must take affirmative action to protect the public form harm even if by doing so they lose a few pieces of silver.