Daily Herald editorial

The blizzard that paralyzed much of Austin, Mower County and southeastern Minnesota last Thursday and Friday was astounding. The many drivers who went into the ditch on county roads, highways and interstates, despite ample warning of an impending catastrophic winter storm, were even more astounding.

We cannot believe this needs to be said, but people really shouldn’t drive in a blizzard. It’s recklessly dangerous and, in some cases, fatal. While we are glad no fatalities were reported because of the blizzard, we are amazed people would try to drive anywhere after law enforcement around the state issued travel advisories in advance of the storm.

When you try to outrun a blizzard, you don’t just put yourself in danger. You put all of the emergency personnel who have to dig you out in danger, too. Mower County Sheriff Terese Amazi said Friday morning all deputies were on duty, but few could respond to the flood of calls for help from stranded motorists because blowing snow and icy conditions had made roads impassable.

Plow crews moved slowly throughout the county Thursday and Friday because the blizzard made it difficult to see the road. That is, when they weren’t towed out of the ditch themselves, which happened at least once on Friday according to reports.

The Minnesota State Patrol and Department of Transportation issued joint statements urging drivers off roadways as veteran officers said conditions were “as bad as they’ve seen in 25 years.”

Travel advisories will likely lift by the end of the weekend, but we hope the lesson behind this latest storm will take hold: It’s just plain dangerous to drive in a blizzard.