Cold wave in the USA: it's like working on the street with a thermal sensation -53ºC

A wave of extreme cold hits the Americans. Many of them prefer to shelter from the low temperatures that prevail at home, while others have to go to work.

The icy winds that blow this week in the United States produce a thermal sensation of up to -53ºC.

Temperatures collapsed in the Midwest and Northeastern United States as the so-called "polar vortex" pushed Arctic air back into the country's territory.

As a result, some state regions, such as North Dakota, experienced thermal sensations of up to -54 ° C this week.

Until yesterday, at least eight people had died as a result of bad weather.

In addition, dozens of schools and businesses have closed and several
They declared themselves urgent.

While many Americans try to shelter from extreme cold at home, others have to go to work.

The BBC has been keeping up with some of those who have to work for everything to be frozen around them.

"Incomprehensible cold"

Brett Thicke is the Public Works Supervisor for the Town of Richfield, Wisconsin, in the northern United States.

Your job is to keep the roads clear in very cold weather.

"There is nothing I can compare," says Thicke. "I'm trying to think of the worst cold I've ever known and I multiply it by 10. It's an incomprehensible cold."

"We are near -45 ° C in Richfield today," he said. "With the little hair I have on my face, as soon as I leave, it seems that every follicle is energized, even though it's completely covered."

The hydraulic fluid in the snowplows freezes and can not work for long.

"Your eyes start crying because of the blowing wind and almost instantly start freezing around the edges and eyelashes," he says.

"Even with multiple thermal layers, the cold runs through the work boots," he laments.

"Today, we were able to remove the snow cover only for about three hours because the hydraulic fluid from the snow plow started to freeze," said Brett. "In all my years, I have never seen this happen before."

"Work hard to keep you warm"

Jim Garde has been repairing water pipes in Madison, Wisconsin for 16 years. "This climate is not very pleasant to be outdoors, especially if it's your turn to be out at night, when it's colder," says Jim.

"You have to be in constant motion, it's not too cold, you have to work hard to get hot," he says.

Jim Garde repaired water pipes during the cold snap.

What worries Jim is the conditions of frozen freeways.

"You expect drivers to take into account your safety, but you are always afraid of losing control of the situation, the city gives us highly visible jackets," he said.

De-icing an airplane

While several airports in the United States have canceled their flights because of low temperatures and some dispute difficult conditions to keep people in circulation.

The Columbus International Airport, Ohio, shared a video that shows an employee de-icing a plane on a runway:

The temperature in Columbus has fallen to -18ºC.

"Exciting"

Sarah McMullen works in a hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, where it is expected that the cold will reach -23ºC.

"Emergency personnel and other hospital staff, like me, should come to work, even when travel is restricted," he told the BBC.

The young woman admits that moving in the cold makes her nervous.

"I have blankets in the car, a sleeping bag and several layers of clothes prepared to be used during the 20 minutes that I spend outside," he says.

Sarah McMullen works in a hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Sarah is part of the team that receives patients arriving by ambulance at the entrance to the hospital.

"Medical emergencies happen whatever the weather, so we have to be here to make sure people are treated," he said.

"Sometimes the process is not short, so we need to be creative to stay warm and keep patients warm," he says.

Sarah acknowledges that the cold is a "challenge", but also thinks it's a bit "exciting to see how cold it is".

"The colder it is, the better it is"

Not everyone is worried about the cold. Dave Giacomin is delighted that the temperature has dropped.

Giacomin is a mountaineer who runs a business that prepares people for mountaineering at high altitude.

"I am currently preparing a grand climb of Mount Katahdin in Baxter National Park, Maine, in the northeastern United States," said Dave. "This cold weather is ideal for me, the colder it is, the better it is!"

Dave is used to extreme cold weather and says this season is pretty "sweet" for him: "everything is relative".

Dave Giacomin is a mountaineer who welcomes the cold with open arms.

Dave knows that most people do not want to go out while it's so cold.

"People tell me I'm crazy, but I see them sitting on the couch and I think they're crazy, I live my life, even though it's cold!"