Claire Jensen, 5, (in purple) and her twin sister, Hailey Jensen, 5, right, of Ankeny, play outside while their father, Aaron Jensen, \uFEFFremoves snow from their property Wednesday\uFEFF.\uFEFF Aaron had already been outside for about 21/2 hours. The girls had been outside for about an hour that morning. \uFEFF / HOLLY McQUEEN/THE REGISTER
- FILED UNDER
- News
Alex Dobill, 10, of Ankeny works on a fort in the Georgetown neighborhood while off from school for a snow day on Wednesday. / HOLLY McQUEEN/THE REGISTER
Brayden Jacobson, 19, left, and his father, Jeff Jacobson, of Ankeny, right, work on snow removal of a client's home on Northwest 27th Street in the Georgetown neighborhood in Ankeny after the winter storm. Jeff Jacobson is the owner of Mr. Basic, a handyman-plus service. / HOLLY McQUEEN/THE REGISTER
Wind and 8 inches of snow combine to make life difficult; public works department scrambles to keep up.
Ankeny residents, snowplow crews and public safety officials faced winter's wrath earlier this week as they braved the strongest snowstorm so far this season.
The blizzard brought nearly 8 inches of snow to the metro area, driving those flakes through the air and across the roads with bitter winds. Ankeny schools were closed Wednesday; Tuesday night, city parks and recreation activities and school events were canceled or postponed.
Ankeny's Public Works Administrator Al Olson said Wednesday that the blizzard's one-two punch of snow and wind brought the toughest conditions he has seen in his 29 years with the city - even worse than last winter's 14-inch snowstorm.
The blizzard brought nearly 8 inches of snow to the metro area, driving those flakes through the air and across the roads with bitter winds. Ankeny schools were closed Wednesday; Tuesday night, city parks and recreation activities and school events were canceled or postponed.
Ankeny's Public Works Administrator Al Olson said Wednesday that the blizzard's one-two punch of snow and wind brought the toughest conditions he has seen in his 29 years with the city - even worse than last winter's 14-inch snowstorm.
"It's really an all hands-on-deck situation," Olson said.
The public works department continued its 24-hour operation cycle into the day on Wednesday.
Public Relations Officer Deb Dyar reported the main roads in the city were open Wednesday morning, but a number of residential areas wouldn't be plowed for awhile.
"They can't get ahead of it," Dyar said. "Until the winds die down they won't make a lot of progress."
During the worst of the storm, fire department staffing schedules were altered so a second engine company was on standby. That allowed crews to respond to more calls at one time. Police officials also changed their staffing plans to have more officers available during the blizzard.
The public works department continued its 24-hour operation cycle into the day on Wednesday.
Public Relations Officer Deb Dyar reported the main roads in the city were open Wednesday morning, but a number of residential areas wouldn't be plowed for awhile.
"They can't get ahead of it," Dyar said. "Until the winds die down they won't make a lot of progress."
During the worst of the storm, fire department staffing schedules were altered so a second engine company was on standby. That allowed crews to respond to more calls at one time. Police officials also changed their staffing plans to have more officers available during the blizzard.
Business at hotels near the interstate picked up late in the afternoon Tuesday.
Vipa Patel, an owner of the Days Inn, 103 N.E. Delaware Ave., said her hotel saw an upswing in guests late in the day.
"They started coming in in the early evening," she said. "We had 16 more rooms filled, so that was very good."
At the Best Western Metro North at 133 S.E. Delaware Ave., business started picking up before 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Jake Pray, front desk associate, said nearly all of the hotel's 120 rooms were booked.
Vipa Patel, an owner of the Days Inn, 103 N.E. Delaware Ave., said her hotel saw an upswing in guests late in the day.
"They started coming in in the early evening," she said. "We had 16 more rooms filled, so that was very good."
At the Best Western Metro North at 133 S.E. Delaware Ave., business started picking up before 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Jake Pray, front desk associate, said nearly all of the hotel's 120 rooms were booked.
"Usually it's pretty quiet on a Tuesday," he said.
Residents made sure they had the groceries and gear they needed before the storm hit.
Bob Hoksch, owner of Ankeny Ace Hardware, said Tuesday afternoon that his store had been busy with people stocking up on last-minute needs before the worst of the blizzard hit that evening.
The hottest item? The Snow Plow Shovel, a made-in-Iowa item that Hoksch said has a blade of tough plastic that glides over concrete driveways and sidewalks and wears five times longer than steel.
Residents made sure they had the groceries and gear they needed before the storm hit.
Bob Hoksch, owner of Ankeny Ace Hardware, said Tuesday afternoon that his store had been busy with people stocking up on last-minute needs before the worst of the blizzard hit that evening.
The hottest item? The Snow Plow Shovel, a made-in-Iowa item that Hoksch said has a blade of tough plastic that glides over concrete driveways and sidewalks and wears five times longer than steel.
Some residents were coming to the store's repair area to get parts for their snow blowers. Hoksch said he sold a few new snow blowers Tuesday, but expected those might be more in demand Wednesday.
Ankeny resident Larry Miller didn't let the forecast affect his shopping list Monday at Hy-Vee, as he had just a few items in his cart.
"I'm not too overly concerned at this point," Miller said.
Miller has spent most of his life in Iowa, but lived in Arizona for a time before moving to Ankeny around five years ago to spend more time with his grandchildren.
Ankeny resident Larry Miller didn't let the forecast affect his shopping list Monday at Hy-Vee, as he had just a few items in his cart.
"I'm not too overly concerned at this point," Miller said.
Miller has spent most of his life in Iowa, but lived in Arizona for a time before moving to Ankeny around five years ago to spend more time with his grandchildren.
Miller said even in the middle of winter, he preferred Iowa to Arizona - snowstorms included.
He grew up here, Miller said, "so I know what it's like."
Reporter Janet Klockenga contributed to this story.
He grew up here, Miller said, "so I know what it's like."
Reporter Janet Klockenga contributed to this story.
