Consequences

Infrastructure
Infrastructure damage due to freezing rain is one of the largest concerns for communities prone to frequent ice storms. Overhead lines are conceivably hit the hardest by ice storms (Figures 11&12).  Hanging wires can collect up to a 5 centimeter coating adding up to 20 pounds per foot of extra weight.  This extra weight is what causes infrastructure failure.  The combined forces of ice, wind and weight cause failure in power lines at weak points as well as cause towers to collapse to the ground under the added stresses (Figure 13)..

Animals

Animals active in the winter months are also quite vulnerable to ice storms (Figure 14).  Starvation is a large problem because animals, specifically deer and cattle, cannot get to food that has been covered with ice.  Birds who cannot find shelter during an ice storm might find their feet frozen to whatever surface they perch on.  Bird’s wings also get covered in ice making flight an impossibility.  Ground bound animals may also see certain death because frozen drifts enclose opening for escape.

Trees
As do overhanging power lines, trees accumulate ice in great amounts (Figure 15); conifers are more resistant then deciduous trees because of evolutionary adaptations.  Conifers have great flexibility and a non-branching, tapered shape which help them survive heavy winters. Deciduous trees, on the other hand, are quite vulnerable to ice storms due to their multiple large branches and non-evolutionary assistance (Figure 16).  Icing can also suffocate plants by sealing leaves from air with ice sheets.