Braving the biting arctic blast: As dangerous cold continues, residents cope

When the forecasted temperature finally rises above zero Friday, Central Minnesota will have been in the grips of subzero conditions for more than 70 hours.

Some of that time has been well below with overnight lows of 30 below zero and wind chill values of 54 below. The last time Brainerd was above zero was before 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 28, when the thermometer read 1 degree during a day that never reached double-digits for a high.

Another extremely cold night with a forecast for an air temperature of 36 below Wednesday night into Thursday morning prompted school closings for a third day. Wind chill values may be 30-40 below Thursday while temperatures could be described as moderating Thursday night to a mere 12 below with wind chills of 20-25 below. It will be warmer overnight than it has been during recent days of the polar vortex.

While businesses and schools close and residents who can stay indoors, others are still out during the cold hours-from emergency services, garbage haulers, utility crews, tow-truck operators, ranchers, food delivery drivers, service providers to newspaper carriers, and more-who are making the best of brutal cold.

Warmth for the weary

Those without a respite from the deep freeze are welcomed by the Brainerd Lakes Salvation Army, which established a temporary 24-hour warming center Tuesday.

Lt. Scott Ruse said a team of employees and volunteers worked to ready the area for people in need, including dressing 10 cots with blankets, sleeping bags and brand-new donated pillows.

"Each person gets their own pillow, and they can take that with them when they go," Ruse said.

Also available are personal care kits, including a toothbrush, toothpaste, body wash and shaving supplies. The nonprofit has a shower available for use by anyone using the center.

Ruse said one person stayed the entire night Tuesday, while as many as 8 others came through the doors.

"During the day today people were kind of coming in to warm up and get a meal," Ruse said. "It's available and open to anybody who walks through the door. We don't ask questions."

A volunteer with the organization's emergency disaster services has cooked meals in the facility's commercial kitchen, providing breakfast and dinner.

Although the center is available 24 hours, Ruse said the door is locked at 10 p.m. to provide security to those staying. But one need only to knock on the door at 208 S. Fifth St. and one of two staff members will answer. Ruse said those working with the warming center are trained in emergency response, including in the case of injuries or other medical concerns. Although no one has yet appeared with frostbite or other health impacts from the cold, Ruse said staff would immediately contact medical personnel if they had concerns.

The center will remain open through 4 p.m. Thursday, after which the bitter cold is expected to give way to more seasonable temperatures. Although Minnesota winters can be hard in and of themselves for those struggling with housing. Ruse said bags of provisions are available at the Salvation Army, including extra sets of clothing and donated warm-weather gear-for all ages and genders.

Delivery drivers battle elements

"The worse the weather is, the better it is for delivery," said Curtis Ross, manager at the Rafferty's Pizza delivery store in Brainerd.

During a phone interview Wednesday evening, Jan. 30, Ross estimated sales for the day almost doubled compared to a normal Wednesday.

"The increase is astronomical. Between businesses during lunch, residential during the evening, it's been a huge increase," he said.

Rafferty's isn't the only business finding positives during this cold snap.

"Oh yeah," Travis Schaar, manager at Food Dudes delivery service, said when asked if sales have been up the last couple days. "There's a nice little spike for lunch, and then right around dinner it gets active. ... We've definitely noticed an increase because of the temperature drop, for sure."

Deliveries have been up for Pizza Hut in Baxter too, and so have the customers' gratitude levels.

"There's a few of the drivers that have told me that people they delivered to were thanking them and overly grateful that they would come out in this cold to bring them food," said Joshua Rinde, Pizza Hut shift manager.

Rafferty's delivery drivers have seen more appreciation for their services as well.

"On a majority, I would say there is more gratitude for sure. I'm not going to say people are tipping excessive, but I would definitely say people are more generous, more grateful for what we do, the services we provide in these extreme temperatures," Ross said. "My drivers are definitely happy with the majority of customers and the compensation."

Just like any motorist, delivery drivers have to take extra precautions to keep warm and safe in extremely cold temperatures. One of the biggest obstacles Ross noted for his drivers is dressing appropriately for the cold without wearing too many layers.

"If you're overdressed you'll start sweating, then you go out into the cold, and actually there's a very high probability of getting sick then," Ross said. "Changing that temperature as frequently as they are, that's a big risk."

One Rafferty's driver learned that lesson the hard way, Ross said, and he shared a story of a driver who took a glove off and touched a door with a sweaty hand, thus having to pry his hand off the cold door.

Because of concerns like that, Rafferty's suspended deliveries at 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, and Pizza Hut drivers have the liberty, per management, to decline deliveries if they deem the elements too brutal.

"'It's up to your guys' discretion,'" Rinde told his drivers. "'If you guys want to continue to deliver in this weather you can, if you don't I will not blame you.'"

Another precaution Ross told his drivers to take is not to wait outside a residence for very long if no one answers the door but to go back to the car and call the customer.

"Sitting out there for two, three, four minutes, waiting for someone to answer the door, then exchanging food, then having them sign the credit card slip ... and if you're in the wind, there's a good chance you're going to be getting frostbite or close to it in a few minutes," Ross said.

And Rinde reminds his drivers to take basic measures in the cold, just like any other time of year.

"We just tell them, like we always ... be safe," Rinde said. "Don't take any risks that are going to put you or others in danger and cause someone to be stranded in the cold."

Polar paper routes

For John and Patty Simon, delivering the morning paper is a 20-year routine for the longtime carriers and somewhat of a family affair with their son and daughter-in-law and a brother all newspaper carriers for the Dispatch.

"It takes a little bit longer for us," Patty Simon said of the challenge of delivering the newspaper during some of the coldest hours of the night. "It's the coldest in many, many years, but we've gone through this kind of thing before many years ago."

They start at 2:30 a.m. loading up their papers in about 15 minutes at the Dispatch after the daily press run and then go their separate ways on their delivery routes. Patty Simon has the Cypress Drive apartments and Walmart on her stops, meaning she is out of her car and on foot for part of her route. Snow-covered and icy walkways are another challenge along with the cold on those dark winter nights, but this cold comes with additional needs for preparation.

"We have to dress in layers-long johns, toe warmers, hand warmers, extra blankets and your emergency kit."

Simon said there is comfort in knowing her family members are also out there in case there is a vehicle breakdown. "We've all got each other's back out there. You know somebody will come out and save you if you need help."

They all hope their vehicle works in the extreme temperatures.

"You pray your window rolls up," she said as they put papers into delivery tubes. But they carry extra blankets on the chance the window may not respond.

"It's not fun," Simon said of the cold conditions. "We only have a couple more days of it. We'll get through it. ... Overall it's an awesome job."

Simon said she knows the work is appreciated as she see people-a combination of night owls and early risers-waiting for the paper to be delivered. She hears from those customers most often at Christmastime.

"They are so appreciative to get their paper and it just makes you feel so good," Simon said. They hang the cards they get up on the wall. "People do appreciate what we do. ... We love our job."

By 5 a.m., the Simons are done with their routes. John Simon drives about 70 miles a night and Patty Simon covers about 55 miles. But with vehicles protected in a garage from the worst of the cold night's bite, they are ready for the temperatures.

"It is a challenge for anybody and any vehicle, you've got to dress for it. You've got to be prepared if anything happens," Patty Simon said. "If we get through this it's a piece of cake until we get a snowstorm, I hope so anyway."

After bitter cold, comes sleet?

Perhaps it's insult upon injury. Friday promises a 17-degree high with a south wind. And the forecast for Saturday continues to promise a 30-degree high following by 38 degrees on Super Bowl Sunday, if that warmth comes to fruition. But Sunday night may bring a combination of drizzle and sleet into Monday morning before temperatures drop down again to single-digit highs next week.

Yes, it's cold out there

Brainerd Dispatch reporter Frank Lee ventured out during the polar vortex Wednesday to have fun experimenting with an egg, bubbles, boiling water, a squirt gun and more. Visit https://brainerddispatch.com/video/gossphT5 to view the video results of his scientific tomfoolery.