The record-breaking snow fell on eastern North Carolina Monday night/Tuesday morning, hence this is the third day. Some grocery stores managed to open up yesterday for the afternoon. There were so many people wanting to buy groceries and so few store employees that people were being allowed access only in groups of 10 to 15 at a time. Essentials such as milk and bread were quickly sold out and have not been replenished due to transportation difficulties.

The Durham Department of Social Services notifed people via the news media that vouchers for kerosene and bags of canned goods would be available from noon to 4 PM today and tomorrow for those experiencing emergencies. So many people turned up that problems ensued and tempers were short. When it was explained that only those able to demonstrate dire need would receive the vouchers, many people left, angry and upset.

Some gas stations have run out of gas and some pharmacies have been unable to open.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), January 27, 2000

Answers

Thanks for the report Old Git. That is really sad, not even enough at home for 3 days???? I would think that most people would have had some experience with the vagaries of life that at least 3 days would seem reasonable, but I guess not.

-- Sammie (sammiex0@yahoo.com), January 27, 2000.

Here's a related news story. But before you read it, a brief note. Sweetie, who is suffering from cabin fever and a dwindling stock of his malt beverage of choice, decided to go to Kroger late this afternoon for a couple of six packs. It was madness, he said. There was crowds of people surveying the empty shelves in the milk and eggs cases and bread shelves. Only dregs remained in the meat, cheese and produce departments. There was, however, plenty of beer. During his 20-minute wait in the express line, Sweetie had time to be bemused by the woman in front of him, whose basket contained a pack of cinnamon rolls--and tutti frutti ice cream. The guy behind him had the requisite two six-packs of HIS malt beverage of choice, as did quite a few others.

The highway on which Kroger is located is a feeder road for a by-pass and Interstate 85. It was still rutted and was refreezing as the sun went down. Sweetie was able to make it out of the neighborhood by driving 10-15 miles per hour.

Thursday January 27, 2000 06:40 PM

Lines for Storm Assistance Form at DSS Office in Durham

DURHAM (WRAL) -- Snowbound Durham families are expecting to get some help today from the Durham County Department of Social Services in the form of vouchers for food and gasoline.

At noon, a line of about 300 people stretched from the front door, through the parking lot and around the block. Some residents say they had been waiting in line since 8 a.m. after being told the office would open at noon.

However, at noon, doors had not yet opened and DSS employees were just arriving.

In addition to the food and fuel vouchers, the department also will be helping other residents pay higher-than-normal power bills caused by the this month's below-normal temperatures. A new record low was set Thursday at RDU as the mercury dropped to 10 degrees.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), January 27, 2000.

Thursday January 27, 2000 12:11 PM

North Carolina Digs Out From Record Snowstorm

RALEIGH (AP) -- Hurricanes are one thing. But full-blown snow storms?

North Carolinians, becoming used to dealing with the sloppy cleanup after the wind and rain of hurricanes, were not prepared for the kind of paralysis brought by two feet of snow that still left thousands without power Thursday.

``It's far worse than any hurricane we've had,'' said Moore County Manager David McNeill.

And forecasters said a very slow thaw and more precipitation is in sight.

During the next few days, high temperatures should hover near freezing, with lows dipping into the 20s and teens, slowing any melting of the white stuff, the National Weather Service office in Raleigh said.

More moisture is on the way Saturday and Sunday, but forecasters said it's not clear whether it will add rain or snow to the already treacherous mix.

``Something's coming,'' weather service meteorologist Jonathan Blaes said. ``But there are still a lot of question marks.''

Emergency officials in the Sandhills region of North Carolina were comparing the disaster to Hurricane Hugo, which in 1989 slammed the South Carolina coast and then pushed into central and western North Carolina. Almost 20,000 residents were without power this morning in Southern Pines alone.

The Rev. Anne Beach, pastor of the Biscoe Presbyterian Church in Montgomery County, said people at least could get around after Hugo. She was worried Wednesday about cobbling together enough food to feed the people who were showing up at the shelter she was running out of her church.

``We have plenty of cans of soup, but nothing much to go with it,'' she said. ``I'm just praying for the loaves and the fishes to multiply.''

The storm was being blamed for at least two deaths in North Carolina. Erick Gonzales, 50, of Annandale, Va., was killed in a weather-related traffic accident Monday on Interstate 95 near Four Oaks, authorities said.

Police suspect a Durham man found dead Wednesday morning died of exposure. His identity had not been determined.

The snowstorm, which dumped a record 20-plus inches in the Raleigh area, was North Carolina's fourth in a week.

As cabin fever began to set in, Tar Heel residents resorted to dirt shovels, hoes, rakes, cardboard boxes, buckets and dustpans to remove the icy mess that littered driveways and sidestreets.

Carl Tetterton shoveled snow in front of the Pitt County Courthouse on Wednesday after a long day of clearing sidewalks.

The building and grounds worker gripped the wooden handle with bare hands. It was a regular dirt shovel. The county has no shovels for snow.

``The flat shovels are all we have,'' Tetterton said. ``But it works good for breaking up the ice.''

Duke Energy and Carolina Power & Light Co. reported 58,000 customers in North Carolina still without electricity today. CP&L hopes restore power to 90 percent of the 173,000 customers who lost service by tonight. North Carolina's electric cooperatives reported 28,000 outages at midday today, with 11,000 of them in Union County.

The snows clogged major highways with abandoned cars and tractor-trailers, and state officials said travel remained treacherous even though the worst snarls, along Interstate 85 north of Durham, were cleared by Wednesday afternoon.

``The problem is a lot of tractor trailers have been abandoned on the side of the road. We're having to tow them out of the way,'' Hoffman said. ``The road is still icy, and it gets icier the farther north you go.''

National Guardsmen in Humvees in North Carolina helped state troopers reach traffic accidents, substituted for ambulances on emergency calls and helped transport people to shelters.

Raleigh-Durham International Airport planned to open this afternoon. Continental, Southwest and Midway airlines scheduled flights today. Crews on Wednesday cleared about 20 inches of snow off the airport's longest runway only to discover 3 inches of ice underneath it.

Spokesman Mike Blanton said 120 people were stranded in the airport's two terminals Tuesday and Wednesday, but a hotel chain fed them at no charge.

``Have to get back to Missouri. Don't like the Carolinas. Not very nice,'' chanted a luggage-laden Paul Caldwell, as he navigated the icy sidewalk at RDU.

A need for milk, bread and other basics lured hundreds onto the roads and into some of the longest grocery store lines in recent memory Wednesday. With most people off work for a second consecutive day and nearly all restaurants closed, the few grocery stores that decided to open were packed.

A Harris Teeter store in Durham resorted to a one-in, one-out policy in which customers were held outside until others left. Inside, shopping was made difficult by lines that nearly filled up the store, stretching the length of the food aisles to the back wall.

``We started down there by the Angus Beef sign,'' said Jim Tatum, pointing to the meat section about 15 yards away where he and his wife, Mary, had begun their wait. They had been waiting about one hour, he said, and were still near the end of the line.

Store manager Jim Vurnakes said he had never seen the type of rush that came in Wednesday. Store officials used four-wheel-drive vehicles to pick up employees, he said, but the store still was having difficulty getting employees to work.

Cashier Pat Brewington had walked three miles to get to work, he said.

``That's dedication,'' Vurnakes said, frantically bagging groceries at Brewington's register. ``I'm going to give her a raise tomorrow.''

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), January 27, 2000.

Doesn't matter whether it's a blizzard or a hurricane, earthquake or flood it's always the same sad story. Folks who have nothing in the kitchen will jam the stores at the last minute at a rate no store was ever meant to do business until there's nothing left at all of the more desirable items. It's actually my favorite time to go to the store just so I can observe what people are doing and buying. There's a lot to be learned there for those who have an interest in preparedness.

There is at least one small silver lining to this dark cloud. Right NOW at this very moment there are a whole lot of people in the affected areas who will be open and receptive to the preparedness message. If you have friends or neighbors who are in the unprepared category you'll never have a better chance to convince them of the wisdom of preparing for themselves. Help those where you can and when you can and spread the gospel of preparedness while you have an audience of folks who are willing to listen. Maybe next time there'll be fewer people in a jam and then THEY can take their unprepared friends or neighbors by the hand.

OK, televangelist mode OFF.

.........Alan.

The Providence Cooperative - A great source of preparedness information

http://www.providenceco-op.com

-- A.T. Hagan (athagan@netscape.net), January 28, 2000.