snow storm death

by garrett richardson
(yacolt, washington)

One day, on a stormy snow storm, me and my family were sitting on our couch. Then all of a sudden, we heard a bog crash. We looked outside and saw that the cover area for our horse collapsed, killing our horse along with it. We were all very sad.

Barry's Response Sorry about your horse and property, Garrett. Roof collapse under the weight of snow loads is quite common. It happens every year.

It happens with public infrastructure. Here are a few random incidents:

• In January 2006, an ice rink roof gave away under the weight of a heavy snow in Bavaria, Germany, followed by a similar incident a few weeks later in Poland. 15 people died in the first, 65 in the second.
• The Minneapolis Metrodome roof failed under 17 inches of snow17 inches of snow in Dec 2010. No one was injured
• A snow storm in January 1922, caused the Knickerbocker Theater in Washington DC. to give out during a movie, killing 98
• Gotta have a Canadian example - Kangiqsualujjuaq, Quebec had its school gym wiped out by an avalanche during a New Year's party to bring in 1999, leaving nine dead

Just a few things to think about. Sometimes the timing is just unfortunate.

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