Anchorage, Alaska, is accustomed to snow — but this year has been overwhelming

It’s been a big snow year in Anchorage, Alaska. The city reached 100 inches of snow earlier than ever before and sent notices to thousands of people warning of potential roof collapses.

AILSA CHANG, HOST:

Even by Alaska standards, Anchorage has seen a lot of snow this winter. The record snowfall is overwhelming snow removal crews. It’s been shutting down schools for days and contributing to a spate of roof collapses. Alaska Public Media’s Jeremy Hsieh has the story.

(SOUNDBITE OF SNOWBLOWER ENGINES IDLING)

JEREMY HSIEH, BYLINE: Chad Hansen just used a big forklift to deliver three snowblowers to the flat roof of this one-story office building. The snow is thigh deep up here and literally weighs tons. It’s a blue-sky day, but with the blowers flinging snow into the air, the strip malls nearby look like they’re in a snow globe.

CHAD HANSEN: Oh, this is just fun, isn’t it?

HSIEH: Yeah.

HANSEN: I did that one last night. Now this one today.

HSIEH: Hansen owns General Roofing Company. This scruffy crew has been busy since November, and now they’re short a few guys. Hansen says they’ve been getting worn out.

HANSEN: There’s a snow scoop right there, man.

HSIEH: (Laughter).

HANSEN: Jump right on in.

HSIEH: No, I think I’m going to…

HANSEN: Thirty bucks an hour. I’ll get you up here.

HSIEH: I get – oh, 30 bucks an hour? M