Winter Weather Causes Chaos in the US, Affects Local Cemeteries
The bitter winter weather that has been gripping much of the United States has not only resulted in hazardous driving conditions, delayed flights, and school closures, but also posed significant challenges for local cemeteries. In many areas, the ground is entirely frozen, making it difficult and time-consuming to dig graves.
At Michigan’s Elmwood Cemetery, director of operations Michael Shukwit explained to Newsweek that special equipment, including a high-powered torch, is needed to thaw the frozen ground, allowing the machinery to operate effectively. The weather also makes it more challenging to find a suitable location for burial plots, as the snow cover can obscure the location of headstones and occupied plots.
“We’re not used to this kind of weather,” Shukwit said. “The problem is when there’s no snow cover and it gets cold, the frost goes down. When there’s snow cover, it acts like a blanket of insulation and keeps the frost out of the ground. It makes it easier for us to dig.”
With no snow cover, the situation becomes even more difficult, as plumbers must first remove the frost from the ground before digging. “Cold weather, no snow – much more difficult and time-consuming because now you add half a day/four hours to each job…because now we have to get the frost out of the ground first,” Shukwit noted.
As winter weather-related alerts remain in place for multiple states, including Texas, Louisiana, Florida, New York, Michigan, and the Carolinas, it remains to be seen when the weather will return to normal.
