News : Iowa Snowdrifters Save Lives

Groomers as they are known, were part of the rescue efforts for many stranded on Highway 30

Iowa Snowdrifters, a group that operates in Benton, Johnson, and Iowa counties with a few participants from Linn county, is a social group of snowmobilers who enjoy the winter weather. Snowdrifters is a non-profit club that supports snowmobiling around Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. The group began in the mid 1970s.

Membership in the group is around 100 member and they cover approximately 220 miles of trail. They maintain the 20 trails, mowing and after the derecho, clearing it so that it will be safe for the riders. You might notice little signs in some area ditches that direct riders. To see a map of all of their trails, click here.

The group promotes safety as part of their club. They aren't kidding around in that department. As part of the blizzard on Thursday night, they were part of several snow mobile riders that were out rescuing stranded motorists along Highway 30.

Derrick Parker who lives in Watkins was contacted by a Benton County deputy who asked if he could help on the drifted roads. Parker said that as he made his way there, he was going through drifts on his "groomer" (the gray machine pictured) that were anywhere from 3-5 feet high. He said that he took 26th Ave. to Highway 30, and picked up 4 passengers whom he had trouble communicating with because of a language barrier, then stopped to help two more who were traveling with their cat. He made his way to the Newhall Fire station who had set up cots for those who would be spending the night, At the time he was there they had 10 people there already.

He then plowed out several stranded drivers who otherwise would have been stranded overnight. He than broke a path so that cars could follow him to the station and also pulled one person out who was stuck.

The Iowa Snowdrifters have 25 people on their list that are willing to go out and rescue people if needed.

Chief Butz said that the Newhall Fire Station housed approximately 30 people at the fire station overnight providing cots, a meal last night and breakfast on Friday morning. He said simply, 'We're here to serve."

Kudos to all of our emergency vehicles, deputies, fire department personnel, and especially the Iowa Snowdrifters for their help to save these lives.