Alaska town orders more shovels

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- When you're trying to clear out 15 feet of snow, a regular shovel just isn't going to cut it.

That's why city officials in Cordova, Alaska, have arranged with a Canadian company for a special order of 72 large, scoop-type shovels capable of moving a cubic foot of snow at a time.

Cordova has been buried in snow this winter, and officials are trying to dig out. The Alaska National Guard has sent about 70 people to help clear the city.

Cordova officials couldn't find any of the large shovels available in Alaska, leaving Guardsman to do the work of using regular shovels.

The special order of 72 scoop shovels is expected to be shipped second-day air Thursday, meaning Guardsman should be using them by this weekend.