Workers Battle Windy Conditions
|  Video
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| Jennifer Schwan |
| 1/25/2010 |
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| When the North Dakota Highway Patrol issues ‘No Travel Advised,’ they mean it. "In some places the visibility is down to zero," says Trooper Chris Vigness, North Dakota Highway Patrol. Vigness was traveling Highway 83 since Monday morning and says the problem isn`t icy roads, it`s the wind. "We`ve had a vehicle in the ditch. Some parts are really bad," says Vigness. Vigness isn`t the only one seeing first hand the problems the cold and wind can stir up. Linemen from Verendrye Electric ran into some trouble themselves. "One of our trucks fell into the ditch," says Tom Rafferty, Verendrye Electric. The stuck truck is not the the main problem these men are dealing with, as of 11:00 a.m. Monday, 40 of their customers were without power. "There could be more calling," says Rafferty. And as many would classify these weather conditions to be unbearable, these guys have a job to get done. "At night we might send everyone home. We have to look at the conditions. Safety is our number one priority," says Rafferty. Their second priority is to make sure their customers power is back on, even if it means working in bad conditions. "I`m kind of young, so it isn`t too bad," says Burton Atkinson, Verendrye Electric. The men hope to be finished by Monday night and for Vigness he hopes they arrive back home safely. "Wear a seatbelt and slow down," says Vigness. That`s an important message everyone can benefit from. |
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