Pocono News Section

Icy Roads Slow Down Emergency Responders

Icy Roads Slow Down Emergency Responders - Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 5:15PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Wednesday, Jan 7, 2009 @ 05:15pm EST
POCONO SUMMIT, MONROE COUNTY- Once you dig out the car and spin out of the driveway, you have to deal with frozen roads and falling branches. It's tough on you and even tougher on emergency workers.

"It's horrible," said Pocono Mountain Regional EMS Supervisor Mike Lemley. He dreads ice storms more than snow storms. "Ice is not going to make a difference, four wheel drive no matter what you have," he said.

Ice leads to more accidents than usual and it's more difficult than usual to get to them. "We find we're going a lot slower than we normally would with snow," said Pocono Mountain Regional Police Officer Daniel Smelas.

He showed Eyewitness News a police vehicle that slid on ice and crashed during the storm. No one was hurt but it slowed down response to the accident. Smelas said, "If we don't get there safe, we're not gonna be able to help anybody."

Emergency workers said when every second counts, the most important thing you can do to keep yourself safe is to clear your driveway.

Smelas explained, "In the event of an emergency you're going to want us to get there to help you and to do that we need some help too."

The EMS workers say the best help they can get is a clear road. Everyone stays safe if you wait until the ice melts before you hit the streets.