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Preparation helps members endure frigid weather

Mobile Alabama Stake President J. Nathan Jurgens is something of an expert when it comes to enduring the cold. He grew up in Oregon and has lived in Utah. He’s skilled with a snow shovel and knows all the tricks to dressing warm.

But the recent deep freeze that stretched across much of the United States — from the Midwest, across to the East Coast and even into the Deep South — left even a frosty weather vet like President Jurgens scrambling for the nearest down-filled quilt.

“It’s never in my life seemed this cold,” he told the Church News as he endured another day of record-low temperatures in Mobile — a city to which folks traditionally flee each winter in search of more mild conditions.

Snow and ice are seen covering up Mississippi River and St. Louis Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014.
Snow and ice are seen covering up Mississippi River and St. Louis Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014. | Kiichiro Sato, Associated Press

The historic and broadly dispersed band of polar air settled on much of the country just as people were returning to work and school after the holidays. The mercury dipped into the teens and single digits in locales as far apart as Boston, Chicago and Atlanta.

Church members in affected regions endured the extreme weather along with their neighbors. There were no reports of widespread damage or Church-related humanitarian needs, according to LDS Humanitarian Response Director Bruce Muir.

A layer of ice covers leaves and grass on the Quad at the University of Alabama Tuesday, Jan. 7, 201
A layer of ice covers leaves and grass on the Quad at the University of Alabama Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014. The ice formed after an irrigation line burst in the freezing temperatures. | Michelle Lepianka Carter, Associated Press

Still, several Latter-day Saint families said their pre-storm preparations helped them enjoy peace of mind even as the snow fell and the temperatures continued to drop.

Sarah Severson said her well-stocked food shelves kept her family in good spirits even when several frozen pipes burst in her home outside of Chicago.

Icicles hang from a bumper of a vehicle in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Tuesday morning, Jan. 7, 2013. L
Icicles hang from a bumper of a vehicle in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Tuesday morning, Jan. 7, 2013. Like much of the nation, the Florida panhandle experienced freezing temperatures, with overnight lows Monday dipping to around around 18 degrees. | Devon Ravine, Associated Press

Many of her neighbors were not so calm as food and other provisions quickly disappeared from the shelves of crowded local grocery stores.

“I would have been a lot more stressed if we had not been prepared,” said Sister Severson of the North Shore 1st Ward, Willmette Illinois Stake. “Plus, the members looked out for each other.”

Visiting teachers kept in contact with the Seversons and other ward members to ensure each other’s needs were met.

Boston-area member Rick Doane was at the Franklin Ward building on Jan. 5 for Sunday meetings when a meetinghouse pipe burst, sending water cascading in one section of the building. A young single adult branch that had gathered for sacrament meeting had to be evacuated.

Snow and ice are seen covering up Mississippi River and downtown St. Louis Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014.
Snow and ice are seen covering up Mississippi River and downtown St. Louis Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014. | Kiichiro Sato, Associated Press

Outside of the meetinghouse plumbing issues, Brother Doane said member families seemed to have fared generally well. In recent years, the Hingham Massachusetts Stake has made family and ward preparation a high priority so members would be ready if, or when, trouble hits. The stake even conducted drills to increase readiness.

“It’s been a real comfort to know we’re prepared,” he said.

University of Alabama students Ben Sigmon, left, and Joshua Moon explore a layer of ice over the gra
University of Alabama students Ben Sigmon, left, and Joshua Moon explore a layer of ice over the grass on the Quad at the University of Alabama Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014. | Michelle Lepianka Carter, Associated Press

Birmingham Alabama Stake President Michael Slezak noted that several members in his stake are suffering from colds and other flu-like ailments — but otherwise doing well.

Frozen pipes burst in three meetinghouses in the stake, “but most families were reasonably well prepared,” he reported.

The Birmingham area has been the target of natural disasters in the past — including a devastating band of tornadoes that hit the region in 2011. Members know well the value of being ready.

A driver negotiates an ice patch near Georgia State University as a cold Arctic blast brought temper
A driver negotiates an ice patch near Georgia State University as a cold Arctic blast brought temperatures down to 6 degrees above zero, closing local schools and shattering cold weather records, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014, in Atlanta. | David Tulis, Associated Press

At press time, the record-setting cold appeared to be on its way out. Weather forecasts across the nation were calling for much warmer conditions.

“It’s supposed to be 70 degrees in Mobile this weekend,” said a hopeful President Jurgens.

jswensen@desnews.com

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