Red Cross shelters set up after storm knocks out power
By JEFFREY SAULTON and JOLENE CRAIG jsaulton@newsandsentinel.com jcraig@newsandsentinel.comArticle Photos
PARKERSBURG - Although the Parkersburg area may have dodged a weather bullet, outlying areas in the Mid-Ohio Valley experienced a major snow event Saturday.
At least one fatality was attributed to the icy conditions Friday night and officials reported multiple accidents Saturday morning and again in the evening as wet roads froze again.
Sharon Kesselring, director of financial development for the Mid-Ohio Valley chapter of the American Red Cross, said emergency shelters were set up Saturday afternoon in Spencer, Grantsville and Ripley due to power outages in those areas. Additional sites were on standby in Ripley and Harrisville. In the outlying areas as much as 14 inches of snow fell overnight Friday and Saturday morning, she said.
More than 30,000 people in West Virginia were without power Saturday afternoon, according to the Allegheny Power Web site at www.alleghenypower.com.
Many of those without power were in the North Central region with 4,091 in Ritchie; 3,027 in Calhoun; 2,482 in Roane; 2,263 in Wood and 1,664 in Jackson counties.
Company officials said crews were out working on the problems, but they did not provide any estimate as to when power would be restored.
Kesselring said the first call for a shelter to be set up came in at 9:30 a.m. Saturday from the emergency services office in Roane County.
"They (Roane County officials) called us and we checked with other counties and were told shelters were needed in Calhoun and Jackson counties," she said. "The shelters were opened by our volunteers in those counties and supplies will be sent from Parkersburg."
Kesselring said two volunteers from Wood County, Susan Hughes and Clemencia McCreavy, would run the Roane County shelter and Matt Cooper and Mike and Carol Kesterson will deliver supplies to the shelters.
The Roane County Shelter is at the Senior Services Center, in Grantsville the shelter is at the First Baptist Church and in Ripley the shelter is at the Ripley Volunteer Fire Department. Shelters on standby are the volunteer fire departments in Ritchie County and southern Jackson County and the Baptist Temple in Ripley.
West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin declared a state of emergency Saturday and called out the National Guard to help the state dig out from a winter storm. About 200 guardsmen were activated sent to help clear U.S. 19, and interstates 64 and 77 in southern West Virginia.
Kesselring said those who do not have electricity due to the storm would be advised to go to a shelter rather than trying to keep warm at home.
"It is best to go to a shelter, since trying to keep warm on your own can be dangerous," she said. "Kerosene heaters can be a problem inside and candles are never safe since they can be knocked over and make your situation worse."
If heading to a shelter, she said items to bring include any medication for three to five days, blankets and food and if there are children, bring along what they need like disposable diapers and medications and a few toys.
"Shelter living is not like living at home," she said. "Bringing these things can make it easier."
Jim Blair, mass care manager for the Red Cross, said the emergency shelters will have hot and cold food available.
"We were making food for the health department at a vaccination clinic but we had to shift it all to the shelters," he said. "We have several donations from Walmart in Roane and Jackson counties for additional food and North End Market has also donated food for the shelters."
Kesselring said one problem the Red Cross has encountered is a number of volunteers have not been able to get out since they are also snow-bound. She said anyone wishing to volunteer or make contributions may call the local chapter at 304-485-7311.
"Help people affected by disasters like the recent winter storms, by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters," Kesselring said. "Your gift enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance of all disasters."
Kesselring said the number to call is 800-733-2767. She said contributions to the disaster relief fund may be sent to the local chapter or to the American Red Cross.
In Washington and Athens counties, a Level One Snow Advisory was issued by authorities Saturday morning, meaning roadways were treacherous with blowing and drifting snow. Roads were also icy and drivers were urged to drive very cautiously.
An accident on Old St. Marys Pike resulted in a fatality Friday. Mark Douglas Caltrider, 25, of Parkersburg, was killed in the accident, which officials said was the result of icy road conditions.
Several automobile accidents were reported to area law enforcement departments on Saturday. A dispatcher at the Marietta Police Department said accidents in the city caused streets and bridges to be blocked by stopped traffic but none were closed.
On Saturday, a Wood County Sheriff's Deputy was taken to a local hospital after he dove over a guardrail to avoid being hit by oncomiong vehicles.
Wood County Sheriff Jeff Sandy said Deputy Tom Murphy was directing traffic at an accident scene when he went over a guardrail to avoid being hit by cars sliding toward him. Sandy said Murphy was taken to a hospital and an X-ray was taken of his wrists to determine if they were broken.
According to the National Weather Service in Charleston, bitter cold temperatures were expected across the region Saturday night.
Drivers were cautioned to watch for ice on roads since temperatures fell to the 20s after the little more than two inches of snow received Saturday, said Nick Webb, meteorologist with the weather service.
"Any surface not salted or brined will be very slick until the sun can warm the roads and melt the ice that formed overnight," Webb said.
The Mid-Ohio Valley is not expected to have more accumulation as the storm moves further east.
"The light snow of Saturday night is expected to become snow shower with just a dusting more through (today)," Webb said.
While some people experienced problems due to the snow storm, others chose to make a good time out of the more than four inches of snow on the ground Saturday.
On Chestnut Street in Parkersburg, three boys spent several hours collecting snow from the neighborhood yards and built an igloo.
"It took us three hours," said Bobby Sheldon, 15, who made the igloo with T.J. Tingler, 8, and Cameron Plauche, 9.
As for a white Christmas on Friday, Webb said it is unlikely.
"Really, it is still too early to say what the Christmas weather will be, but it will probably be wet with a small chance of snow," Webb said.
Webb said the storm is expected to move out of the area Monday before noon and leave partly cloudy skies with highs in the 30s through Thursday when a chance of rain and snow move in with a high of 39 degrees.
Rain may stay in the area with between 30 and 40 percent through Friday as temperatures break 40 degrees.
