Comments on: People Rescued But Highways Still Closed

Portions Of Interstates 78, 80 And 81 In Pennsylvania Have Been Shut Since Wednesday's Ice/Snow Storm

[pagirl6]

p.s. the only death listed above was NOT in the back-up, it man putting chains on his farm tractor

[pagirl6]

it's really ridiculous to blame the state. REALITY CHECK! how many roads are in PA? way more than just this one and if anyone thinks the entire state should have been working on just this road because of they were stuck in this back up, then they are very self-centered! how many troopers are there in PA? people need to realize each area is has a few troopers and the storm was effecting the entire state. how many plow/salt trucks & employees/contractors that are qualified to operate them are there? once again, theree was more than just this one road to tend to. maybe the people condeming the state's actions shold moving here and fix the "problems" because the all people interviewed were from out-of-state and seem to have all teh answers.People's stupidity,lack of common sense, & attitudes are to blame for the back-up. The storm was predicted for a week or more....it was reported for days & days & days on the news, on the weather channel, on the radio, EVERYWHERE! Anyone that isn't blind could see what the weather was going to do/doing and if you are blind - your could listen to the reports! The advisories ALL said to STAY OFF the roads. THERE WAS NO EXCUSE TO BE OUT THERE!

[aaabee-2009]

People get scared when they know they have done something foolish and then lash out at anyone or anything around them.

That storm was wreaking havoc everywhere but these people paid no attention. Deaths shouldn't be blamed on the storm. Storms are passive. It is humans making the decision to travel in bad conditions, many without checking the weather on tv or internet, and many leaving home without even stocking up the car like it should be.

It is winter. Snow happens. Put more effort into winter travel preperation before leaving home, instead of channeling effort into blaming others. Blaming officials is unfair. They didnt' want you out there in the first place.

[adventurepa]

A snow Mobile, Lots of coffee and cases of dunken donuts would have made someone rich.
They would have loved you and hated you at the same time. But at least it would have been better then what the state did to help.

[jetlizhan]

now does anyone really think any official wanted this mess to happen? of course not - i'm sure everyone did the best they could, but unfortunately it wasn't good enough. just be thankful you weren't in this horrendous situation - i sure am.

[rickp_va]

Having travelled Rt 78 many times, I fully understand how horrendous the conditions can be on that road. In good conditions it is a dangerous road due to the heavy truck volume and the hilly terrain. Having once been stuck on this road for six hours due to a truck accident, I blame the state and local police for not blocking the entrances and making people exit prior to the backup. Had they done this when I was stuck, thousands fo motorists would not have been in this backup. Yes, people should have more sense to travel in weather like this, but traffic control would have gone a long way to prevent this hugh backup. Regardless of what decisions were made in terms ofwhen and how to plow the road, shutting it down would have facilitated the clearing of the roads and possibly saved some lives.

[elgraz]

It is very unfortunate when such things happen. But Mother Nature can be nasty. Maybe she is not too happy these days with us humans. If you want to see disaster and its consequences, suggest that you all see what horrendous damage a tornado can do. There is no comparison between the results of a snow storm and a tornado.

[pagirl6]

trust me, the troopers know exactly where their pay comes from. You expect the troopers to go around and post signs everywhere, but then crucify them for not helping the stranded! they are human and can't do everything! if you can do a better job, than do it yourself. If people are too stupid to realize what the weather is doing when they are looking out the car window driving and pay attention to the constant news & RADIO reports like responsible people (not to many cars out their without a radio anymore) instead of living in their own selfish "inconvenienced" word, then they deserved to have been stranded! It wasn't rocket science to see it was snow, ice, and freezing rain...which they had been calling for for almost a week!People need to take responsiblity for their actions instead of blaming others.

[chubby505]

Instead of blaming others and complaining about the situation, think about all of the adults, children and animals who suffered in their cars. I do not think it is a pleasure to spend a day in the car, without a bathroom, heat, hot water, food, water, a telephone, and possibly all alone trying to get somewhere for a family emergency. Instead of complaing and blaming the govenment, be happy you were not the one stuck in the auto all day and have a bit of compassion for others.

[cepe10-2009]

Love the blame game of Col. Jeffrey B. Miller of the Penn. State Police. Motorists should have just stayed off the roads??? In which case why weren't they closed to traffic. His excuse and smoke sceen is a classic example of using the blame game to take away from his departments total incompetance. The Penn state Police were obviously among the first to be aware of the blockages yet did little to nothing about it. I hope one day he becomes aware of where his salary comes from.

[abigail4476]

Once again, blaming the government for acts of nature. Wow. The IQ's never cease to amaze me. How about: Watch the weather before you travel and make an INTELLIGENT decision, THEN hold yourSELF responsible when you make the wrong one!!!!

Sheesh.

[mgpm-2009]

Look, unless you are a brain surgeon going to a life threatening surgery, WHY would you travel during an ICE storm? There is an ice storm...STAY where you are...spring for a hotel if you have to, and wait it out.

Anyone that is travelling with a child with a fever or a pregnant woman in an ice storm is out of their minds. I don't blame the state at all for this mess. I blame the drivers. They didn't need the state to tell them the weather. All they had to do was look up.

[actornaught]

somewhere in conditions between soft falling raindrops and screaming firey balls of plummeting lava, the only people out on the roads become just the stubborn and the stupid.

if you're out in bad conditions, you have to take responsibility for becoming part of it and not expect the state to work miracles.