Virginia Scouts share emergency action plan used to clear snow after winter storm Jonas

What happens when a massive winter storm — like Jonas in late January 2016 — buries a community in snow?

The Scouts step in, of course.

Snowfall of this magnitude slows emergency responders, who can’t access fire hydrants, roads or walkways to houses of the elderly or those with physical challenges.

After Jonas, Troop 581 in Bristow, Va., responded with a plan that motivated more than 100 Scouts to step into action and clear streets in the community.

Senior Patrol Leader James Doppee shares his troop’s snowstorm emergency action plan so that other units might consider lending a hand after severe winter weather:

Scouts-Clear-Snow-FirehydrantScouts confined indoors can immediately provide service by calling and checking on neighbors, particularly the elderly or physically challenged. Ask if they have adequate heat, water and food. Work with your parents or troop leaders to provide remedies for those neighbors who are endangered as a result of the weather conditions.

Once it is safe to begin recovery efforts, ask your parents for permission to venture outside. Make sure your parents know where you are at all times. If there are other Scouts in your neighborhood, work together.

Limit your activity to a couple of hours at a time. Go indoors to warm up, stay hydrated and dry off regularly. Review and know the symptoms of and first aid for frostbite and hypothermia and Be Prepared to act. Dress in layers, wear adequate footwear and cover your head and hands.

The snow removal priorities are:

  • Shovel a 3-foot perimeter around fire hydrants. The clearing should be open to the street.
  • Clear walkways between the street and front door of houses of neighbors who are elderly or have physical difficulties.
  • Clear walkways between the street and front door of other neighbors.
  • Once you clear all entryways of houses in easy walking distances of your home, you should help clear driveways so that neighbors have access to their vehicles.
  • After all neighbors have access to their vehicles, clear the area in front of mailboxes to allow the postman to access them.

Remember: Do not shovel snow into the street! And don’t ask or accept compensation for doing a Good Turn. Decline payment and let your neighbor know that you are a Scout who is doing his duty.

Doppee worked with his troop’s adult leaders to craft this message, and he got their approval before sharing the plan with other Scouts on Troop 581’s Facebook page. Once it was safe for Scouts to head outdoors, more than 100 youth and adult leaders cleared away snow to keep the Virginia community operating despite the winter weather.

The troop’s actions not only helped their hometown, but can also serve to inspire other Scouts in the wake of future snowstorms. Great job, Troop 581!


About Bryan Wendell 3282 Articles
Bryan Wendell, an Eagle Scout, is the founder of Bryan on Scouting and a contributing writer.