SF Residents Dig Out From Weekend Storm

by Jill Johnson
February 11, 2013 6:17 PM


Some regions across South Dakot saw up to two feet of snow this weekend. While Sioux Falls didn't get as much snow with just under two inches, the city did see a third of an inch of rain, sleet mix before the snow even fell. That left residents with quite a mess.

Carol Puerkel said, "It was heavy, because you know it was slushy."

Puerkel says her husband scooped on Sunday, but on Monday it was her turn. And it was a battle between her and the layer of ice beneath the snow.

Puerkel said, "You can only do the top surface. Some of it you can scrape but otherwise it's going to stay until it gets warmer and melts."

John Persing was fighting the same battle.

Persing said, "I'm just doing what I can to get rid of some of this ice."

At 94-year-old, he still finds a way to shovel his driveway, something he's been doing for 53 years.

Persing said, "I only cleaned this three times yesterday so!"

Although Persing says it's good excercise, there's others who can't get of the house. For those people, there's people like James Nohava.
   
"There's a lot of elderly, people in wheelchairs, alway moving around Sioux Falls," said Nohava.

The company he works for, Bulldogs Construction, spends the winter shoveling and de-icing.

Nohava said, "Salt melts ice. At the very least it melts it to the point that you have more traction."

But there are times, situations like these, that even their heavy equipment will do the trick.

Nohava said, "Even the bobcat has trouble with some spots, it's really icy."

Leaving residents with mixed emotions.

Puerkel said, "I want as much moisture as we can get. We're dry."

Persing said, "I'm glad if it wouldn't have snowed at all."

The ice caused a few problems in Sioux Falls over the weekend. But it appears most people used their winter driving skills and slowed down. Sioux Falls Police only reported 21 accidents on Sunday.