After Storm’s Fury, It’s Traveler’s Turn
Embarrassed Denver officials vowed Monday to implement better emergency plans after a crippling weekend snowstorm left at least four people dead and thousands of travelers frustrated and fuming.
Denver Mayor Wellington Webb ordered an analysis on what went wrong at Denver International Airport, where up to 3,000 travelers were stranded after the worst blizzard in a decade dumped 2 feet of snow on Denver and surrounding areas Friday and Saturday. Operations were returning to normal Monday.
Four people were confirmed dead because of the storm, including an 11-year-old boy who got lost while playing on his sled, Jenny Kolquist, a spokeswoman for the Children’s Hospital in Denver, said.
Three others were found dead in their cars in El Paso County.
City officials heard complaints directly from disgruntled citizens Monday morning on a talk radio program on KOA, Colorado’s largest radio station.
“We need to sit down and analyze why that snow plan did not work and we need to review it very carefully so that when there is another storm we’re not going to be in this same situation,” Deputy Mayor Butch Montoya said.
Warmer temperatures and sunshine Monday were melting much of the snow, but roads were still icy in spots.
A state of emergency order Gov. Roy Romer announced before dawn on Saturday remained in effect Monday, spokesman Jim Carpenter said.
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