Time and again, when monster blizzards piled copious amounts of snow on Upstate New York, snowmobile clubs have come to the rescue. Now, those snowmobile clubs and the towns in which they operate are seeking equipment to be able to help others more efficiently.
WKBW-TV, the ABC affiliate in Buffalo, New York, broadcast and then posted a 3-minute story on its website recently, recapping a snowmobile club’s rescue efforts from last winter’s Christmas blizzard in that area.
In the story, reporter Katie Morse recalls doing a ride-along with a groomer operator from the Northern Erie Sno Seekers Snowmobile Club during that blizzard as he drove the streets rescuing 41 stranded motorists, bringing medical personnel to various locations and performing other vital tasks.
Morse then shifted the story forward to more current times by discussing the small investment that could be made to help make the club’s effort in future blizzards more fruitful.
“They’re asking for money for two snowmobile groomer cabs to be added into the [state] budget,” Morse reported. “The cabs sit on the back of the groomer and can carry up to 10 people – even a gurney. Right now the groomers can only carry two or three people” at a time.
The cabs, which would be added to the club’s Pisten Bully groomers, would cost about $100,000 each, for a total investment of $200,000. The clubs and local/regional emergency personnel are seeking funding from the State of New York to make the purchase. The reporter even quoted a state lawmaker who is trying to push the plan forward, and has some great camera time with the groomer operators as well.
Overall, the story is a great recap of the life-saving efforts of the snowmobile club – and thus great publicity for our sport. It’s definitely worth a watch or read. Hat’s off to WKBW, and of course also to the Northern Erie Sno Seekers Snowmobile Club!
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