HUNTINGTON Ƶ Johnny Baker, whoƵs been the owner of BakerƵs Towing and Recovery LLC for about 30 years, said his company saw a lot of cars stuck in ditches Monday after sliding on snow and ice.
A winter storm posted by the National Weather Service office in Charleston on Monday morning covered the majority of the state, eastern Kentucky and portions of southeast Ohio. It predicted snow and ice accumulation and hazardous road conditions.
ƵToday, itƵs about typical,Ƶ Baker said of the amount of customers asking for assistance during the winter storm. ƵIƵd say tomorrow, itƵs going to be really bad because 90% of people (were) taking the day off, and tomorrow theyƵre going to go out and the roads are still going to be bad.Ƶ
Baker said his advice to drivers would be, if they donƵt have to leave home, donƵt. If they do, Ƶproceed with extreme caution.Ƶ
ƵIf you could stay on a main road, youƵre a lot better off,Ƶ Baker said, noting the state has worked to make those roads drivable.
But Kris Ferguson, a tow truck operator for NicelyƵs Towing, still said this was the worst winter heƵd seen in Huntington in the past couple of years. HeƵd winched several peopleƵs vehicles that were stuck in snow throughout the storm, and the best advice he could give other than to take it slow on the roads was to just stay home.
ƵItƵs snowing again and freezing back. ThatƵs what people donƵt, theyƵre not understanding is itƵs starting to freeze back on them as theyƵre salting it and theyƵre cleaning it off, and then it freezes right back. Then youƵve got nothing but a bunch of ice,Ƶ Ferguson said.
Despite warnings from local weather services, some workers still had to brave the storm Monday to serve customers.
Justin Gue, owns Justin Gue AAA Lawn Care & Landscaping in Barboursville, one of several companies in the area that offers snow cleaning services.
Gue said he was getting a lot of calls throughout the storm Monday. He said locals are always grateful when heƵs able to get out and plow, as the city canƵt always clean everything like smaller neighborhood roads and driveways.
Still, Gue cautioned people attempting to make their way out into the storm.
ƵJust be careful. ThatƵs it,Ƶ he said.
Some local businesses were doing what they could to help their neighbors.
Ford Rucker, a sales manager at Iron City Hardware, lives in the Southside neighborhood of Huntington and was taking a list of orders Monday to deliver personally on his way home from work.
Rucker said the store quickly sold every kerosene heater it had, nearly 15 to 20, as well as salt pellets, sleds and shovels, propane tanks, camping cylinders and generators.
ƵAll those essentials really go out the door,Ƶ he said.
Lindsey Cook, manager at Butter It Up at The Market, said the crowds werenƵt as thick as the business is used to seeing on Mondays, but she was still seeing foot traffic coming in from hotels and those living close to the downtown area.
Cook said people were calling throughout the day to see if the business was open, as she noticed not many were on Monday. She walked to work that morning to ensure they would be open.
ƵUsually itƵs just like part of our business model to always be open. ... If we want to be there for the community, if they want to get out and get coffee and breakfast, we want to be there for them. So, I mean, I knew yesterday, going into it, I was like, ƵYeah, weƵre gonna be open,ƵƵ she said.
ƵI think that we are very fortunate that we can still be open for the public,Ƶ Cook said. ƵWe like enjoying like this time with them. ItƵs a cozy day that a lot of people have off, and weƵre just here to serve good food, good coffee and good vibes.Ƶ
Close to the Marshall University campus, Calamity J was also open for business. James Anderson, restaurant manager, said Calamity J was Ƶextremely busyƵ Monday and urged people looking for a place to eat to Ƶcome out and spend the day with us.Ƶ
Over at the Huntington City Mission, workers were helping to feed and shelter those who might otherwise be stuck out in the storm.
ƵWeƵre all working together to make sure this population has a warm place to go so that thereƵs no overlaps where theyƵre stuck out in the cold,Ƶ said Steven Little, director of operations and assistant executive director.
He said those in need may go to the Harmony House, which has extended its hours as a warming shelter, head to the dining hall at the City Mission for dinner, and then to the low barrier shelter to have a warm place to sleep.
ƵThereƵs not really been an influx as of yet. Last night, we averaged about the same number as we usually do at the low barrier shelter,Ƶ Little said. ƵItƵs probably those that are in the community that canƵt get here for our feeding program are the ones that weƵre missing because they canƵt get out.Ƶ
Little said the Mission is also having trouble delivering food boxes for its pantry.
For now, he said the Mission could use plenty of donations, volunteers and prayer.
ƵI think one thing that people might need to remember or keep in mind is that the clients that are on the streets are generally there for a reason, itƵs not by choice, at least in most cases, and sometimes they just need encouraged to come into whether it be a warming center or a place to stay or even come in for services,Ƶ Little said.
Right now, he said some of the local warming stations available are at the Huntington City Mission, Harmony House and First Steps Wellness and Recovery Center.
