Last week, my co-worker and I traveled “above
the Rim” to Show Low for a meeting. When we met at the car, I had to laugh.
Between the two of us, we had a blanket, two sweaters, two coats, a scarf, lots
of snacks, and plenty of water. I had the address programmed into the map app
on my phone, and my co-worker had printed out the directions in case we lost
cell service. We both had checked the weather forecast that morning as Show Low
can get snow. We were prepared for anything just as you might expect from two emergency
management professionals on a road trip.
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| On the road to Show Low |
We settled in for the 175-mile long drive. One
of the first things I noticed was the different ways people drive their
vehicles. Some drivers are conscientious about what is happening around them
and some aren’t – like the gentleman driving next to us who changed speeds so
often I got dizzy. He was in front of us, then behind us, then back in front of
us, while we continued at a steady pace.
Or the car that weaved from the left side of
his lane to the right side and back multiple times. We got away from him as
quickly as possible.
The topography between Phoenix and Show Low changes
as you gain altitude. And so does the weather. A sunny and cool day in Phoenix
might be an overcast and cold day in Show Low.
Snow, rain and freezing temperatures would change how one would drive on
the twisting roads in eastern Arizona. Snow had fallen 10 days prior, but there
was nothing on the road to worry about.
We also noticed that fire danger was low
across the state - about right for this time of year. Unfortunately, that will
change soon enough. Fire season always seems to come too soon in Arizona. It
is, however, encouraging to see roadside fire danger signs being used to keep the
public informed.
Another thing we noticed on our road trip was
something most people might not think about – bicycle safety. We drove around a
corner somewhere between Globe and Show Low and two bike riders were pedaling
slowly up a hill. They were decked out for safety, carrying saddle bags with
supplies, wearing reflective clothing, and prepared with blinking lights on
their bikes. Drivers need to be aware of the potential of biker riders on any
road in the state.
Our meeting was a success and our road trip
to Show Low was uneventful, which in this case is a good thing. However, if it
had snowed or we had gotten stranded, we would have been prepared.
Find more preparedness tips online at AzEIN.
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