THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 12, 1995 TAG: 9502090204
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
ONE MAN'S WINTER wonderland is another's white nightmare.
Just ask the many North Carolina Department of Transportation workers who were dispatched in the pre-dawn hours Wednesday to clear roads and bridges of the northeastern corner of the state.
They were out because of an unexpected snowstorm that hit during the night. Up to seven inches of snow was reported. Forecasters had predicted rain for areas east of Raleigh.
While schoolchildren slept in because schools were closed, NCDOT crews were hard at work, spreading salt and sand on ice-slick thoroughfares. For the teams that successfully removed the sand from N.C. Route 12 after Hurricane Gordon, the snow brought a new avalanche of challenges.
``As you know, we never get snow around here ever,'' said North Carolina Board of Transportation Member R.V. Owens III of Manteo. ``We don't have any motor-graders or snowplows to move it all out.
As soon as the snow began to fall Wednesday morning, crews were at work from Hatteras to Elizabeth City, where the heaviest snowfall was reported.
``This took us completely by surprise,'' said Dare County Public Information Officer Charles Hartig. ``But as usual, the DOT came through for us. The crews were on the street as soon as the snow started.''
Road Maintenance Supervisor Paul Hodge of Wanchese said workers were on the job at 3 a.m. Wednesday. Hodge said the crews were surprised by the storm.
``It slipped up on us,'' Hodge said. ``They told us we might get some snow, but it was so pretty yesterday (Tuesday).''
Despite the element of surprise, Hodge said crews responded quickly in the cold darkness.
``We had all the bridges in Dare County salted by 5 a.m.,'' he said. ``It really started putting it (snow) down by 6:15. We salted them again by 7:30 a.m.''
The NCDOT managed to round up motor graders and a snow plow from its equipment yard in Stumpy Point. Hodge said some 21 workers - 15 local and six from Hatteras Island where snows were not as severe - worked on the county's roads and bridges.
``We had about 4 1/2inches on the Wright Memorial Bridge at 11 a.m.,'' said Hodges. ``But we just got mobile in a hurry as soon as the snow started, and were able to get everything cleared up.''
The local DOT crews got a helping hand from surrounding areas. The Department's Gatesville office provided extra manpower, salt and sand. Those crews went home at about 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Local officials praised the work of the DOT.
Despite temperatures that climbed above freezing Wednesday afternoon, emergency management personnel were still concerned about possible re-freezing as temperatures fell after sundown.
``If that happens, we'll be out putting salt and sand down again,'' Hodge said. ``But for now, I think we're all right.''
``We're trying to do our best,'' Hodge said. ``After all, we work for the best company in the state.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
A state transportation department worker operates a grader to push
snow off N.C. Route 12 in Kill Devil Hills after Wednesday's
surprising snowfall.
KEYWORDS: WEATHER by CNB