Along with creating hazardous driving conditions, delaying flights and prompting school closures, the bitter winter weather faced by much of the United States in recent weeks has also impacted local cemeteries.
NEWSWEEK
As the Arctic polar vortex pushed frigid winds across the country, this winter has been particularly challenging, Michael Shukwit, director of operations at Michigan’s Elmwood Cemetery, told Newsweek.
Special equipment must be employed to remove frost from the ground so graves can be more easily dug. Shukwit says a high-powered torch is used to thaw the frozen ground, making it easier for the machinery to operate effectively.
The weather also affects the ability to find a suitable location for laying someone to rest.
While it’s easy to spot a plot in the summer months when the ground is clear, it can be more challenging when snow blankets the ground, which can obscure the location of headstones and occupied plots.
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