THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 9, 1995 TAG: 9502090419
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH AND PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITERS
LENGTH: Long : 138 lines
The unexpected snowstorm that blanketed Northeastern North Carolina Wednesday claimed the life of at least one person, reminding residents that despite its beauty, nature can be treacherous.
Up to seven inches of snow fell, a day after officials had issued a weather advisory calling for rain only, east of Raleigh.
An average of three to five inches covered the region, with the Currituck County community of Powell's Point reporting seven inches.
From Elizabeth City east to the northern beaches of the Outer Banks to Hatteras Island, residents awoke to find streets and highways smothered in the white stuff.
Municipalities, along with North Carolina Department of Transportation crews, worked to make roads and bridges passable. But dropping temperatures were expected to make roads icy and dangerous overnight and before dawn today.
As residents rolled out of bed, the snow provided a sleepy-eyed surprise for many. Lee Markert of Coinjock discovered five inches of snow on his lawn.
``I knew they were predicting it, but the way it was clear yesterday, I didn't expect to see snow this morning,'' Markert said.
Grocery stores were packed. When the Food-A-Rama in Manteo opened at 8:30 a.m., customers were lined up outside.
``It's a madhouse,'' said manager Jackie Swain said at 10:30 a.m. ``People are buying a little bit of everything - milk, eggs, bread, canned soups and bottled water. We were almost out of bread but the bread man is here right now.''
On Hatteras Island, Allen Burrus, co-owner of Burrus' Red and White in Hatteras Village, said the southern end of the island received only a trace of snow.
Checkout lines at the Farm Fresh in Elizabeth City were nearly empty by 11 a.m. But a clerk at the store said it had been a different story only a few hours earlier.
``I think everybody figured out the snow was probably going to melt,'' he said.
The North Carolina Highway Patrol reported a number of weather-related accidents, but the only death reported was in Camden County. The body of an Elizabeth City man was found in an overturned car that had apparently skidded off Route 158 and sank in an inlet of the Pasquotank River.
Michael Sears, 30, was westbound in a light green Ford LTD when he apparently hit some ice or snow and his car flipped off the road, said North Carolina State Trooper E.D. Johnson.
Johnson estimated that the accident occurred about 2:45 a.m. Wednesday, judging from snow accumulation on the overturned vehicle. The wreck was not discovered until 10:45 a.m., when highway workers noticed part of the car jutting from the water, Johnson said.
Jim McMullen, owner-operator of the nearby Shell Of Camden, was called about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday and used a wrecker to pull the car from the water with help from local and state officials.
``The only thing that was sticking up was the rear wheels and a little bit of the bumper,'' McMullen said.
McMullen said he had received a number of weather-related calls Wednesday morning, including a vehicle that had turned upside-down in a ditch. They were part of numerous accidents and ditchings reported throughout the area Wednesday.
Sgt. P.G. Scheppf said motorists for the most part stayed off the roads in Dare and Currituck counties.
``We've had a few minor wrecks in Currituck County,'' Scheppf said. ``I think people may be scared to get out on the roads.''
No roads or bridges in Currituck or Dare Counties were closed Wednesday, Scheppf said.
However, commuters traveling from Currituck County to Hampton Roads had tough sledding on N.C. 168. Joan Williams of Moyock said her son Nathan left for his job around 7 a.m., only to return two hours later after getting only two miles up N.C. 168.
He had better luck on his second try Wednesday, his mother said. ``I guess everybody was in turmoil this morning.''
Dare County Public Safety Director Harry Seymour said there had been no reports of serious injuries.
``Knock on wood, we haven't even had a call,'' said Seymour. ``This is exceptional. In weather like this, you would expect to have some fender-benders. But that hasn't happened.''
Even though roads remained open, several scheduled activities were postponed Wednesday. A reception celebrating the opening of the Outer Banks History Center's newest exhibit, ``Four Centuries of Mapmaking: A Chronology of Outer Banks Cartography,'' has been rescheduled for Feb. 28.
The snow delayed home delivery of The Virginian-Pilot to some neighborhoods in the Southern Shores areas, as well as some of the mainland areas of Currituck County. At least one carrier's vehicle slid off the road and into a ditch. The driver was not hurt.
(Customers who did not receive their newspapers Wednesday should receive them with today's edition.)
For the most part, Wednesday's weather meant an unexpected holiday for schoolchildren and some workers. Schools were closed throughout the northeast. And for others, it provided an opportunity to celebrate nothing in particular.
``There are a lot of kids throwing snowballs,'' said Burrus. Maybe that's where all the snow's gone.''
For local restaurant and bar owners, the snow meant a steady drift of customers.
``A lot of my customers were in early this morning for coffee,'' said Chuck Powell, owner of Mulligan's in Nags Head. ``Anytime we have something to do with the weather - a hurricane, a storm or snow - people use that as an excuse to hop from bar to bar to bar.''
The mood of the day was perhaps best summed up by Ed Gafney of Nags Head.
Gafney, 53, a veteran skier who two weeks ago was negotiating the slopes of Colorado, was spotted cross-country skiing along U.S. 158 shortly after dawn Wednesday.
``It isn't Aspen,'' Gafney said. ``But it's kind of fun.''
Meanwhile, school districts that closed on Wednesday planned to watch the weather to decide on today's schedule.
The Coast Guard reported a quiet day Wednesday at its air base in Elizabeth City. The installation was closed Wednesday, but is expected to be open today if conditions are favorable.
For the most part, Wednesday was a festive day. Everyone from middle-schoolers to the middle-aged took advantage of the relatively mild temperatures and sunshine that prevailed throughout the morning.
``It brings out the kid in you. I mean, it's just instinct,'' said Frances Jordan, 48, as she worked to complete a snowman in front of her brick ranch home in Elizabeth City's Edgewood community.
Jordan said she awoke about 1 a.m. And set an alarm to wake her at 3:15 a.m., ``just to make sure it was still snowing.''
Jordan's 13-year-old son Wesley worked on his own snow creation in the back yard. Daughter Melissa, snuggled in a snowsuit, romped in the snow with a friend down the street. ``I love snow!,'' she yelled, as she thrust her arms into the air. MEMO: Staff writer Anne Saita contributed to this report.
ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by DREW C. WILSON, Staff
Justin Clark, 14, an Outer Banks vacationer from Alaska, finds
himself in familiar conditions Wednesday as he and some friends
slide down Kill Devil Hills at the Wright Brothers Memorial.
Mark Hanley, left, and Robyn Richardson walk their dogs - fittingly,
Alaskan malamutes - on a snowy Kitty Hawk beach.
KEYWORDS: WEATHER by CNB