They look innocuous but they can be deadly. Water dripping off a roof can produce icicles weighting multiple tens of pounds quickly, these items falling can do serious damage to a human.
Damage and injuries caused by icicles
Icicles can pose both safety and structural dangers.[5] Icicles that hang from an object may fall and cause injury and/or damage to whoever or whatever is below them. In addition, ice deposits can be heavy. If enough icicles form on an object, the weight of the ice can severely damage the structural integrity of the object and may cause the object to break.
The story of an English youth who was killed by a falling icicle in 1776 has been often recounted.[6][7][8][9]
Armstrong, the scientist from the National Snow and Ice Data Center, told a journalist, “Another twist is very large icicles falling from cliffs along highways hitting cars. Where I used to work doing avalanche hazard assessment and forecasting along U.S. Highway 550 in southwestern Colorado, icicles have fallen and destroyed passing cars.”[1]
In 2010, five people were killed and 150 injured by icicles in Saint Petersburg, Russia after a heavy snow that also caused apartment block roofs to collapse, as well as creating water damage to private homes and to the National Library of Russia.[10]
Kathleen F. Jones of the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory states, “The combination of the ice load and the wind on ice load can break wires, cross arms, and poles and/or other supporting structures. Damage associated with icicles on roofs may be to vehicles parked next to the overhang. Icicles on roofs are also often associated with ice dams that may cause water to infiltrate under the shingles with possible water damage to the house or building and its contents.”
Today in history: January 8th 1887
Wolf Mountain Montana sees the last battle between Crazy Horse and the United States Army
The $5.4 billion pipeline project will increase the value of Canadian oil by unlocking access to world markets. The combined minimum fiscal impact for construction and the first 20 years of expanded operations is $18.5 billion including federal, provincial and municipal tax payments that can be used for public services such as health care and education. British Columbia receives $2.1 billion; Alberta receives $9.6 billion, and the rest of Canada shares $6.8 billion. Municipal tax payments (not adjusted for inflation) total $922 million to BC and $124 million to Alberta over the first 20 years of expanded pipeline operations. Direct capital spending for the construction phase of the project includes $3.8 billion to British Columbia and $1.6 billion to Alberta. At the peak of construction, 4,500 people will be working on the pipeline expansion. The expansion will also create approximately 3,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs per year during operations. Overall the Project generates a minimum of 108,301 direct, indirect and induced person-years of employment during project development and operations. British Columbia’s share is 66,132 person-years including 35,864 during project development and 30,269 during operations. Alberta’s share is 24,926 person-years including 14,632 during project development and 10,293 during project operations.
Kevin Griffiths
percypaschal
The Proprietor Review 