Snow, wind create sustained complications for motorists

Although the snow stopped falling early Saturday morning, complications from the most recent winter storm persisted throughout the weekend.

Franklin County Sheriff Aaron Dodd on Monday said that the sheriff’s office responded to very few weather-related calls as the snow fell Friday afternoon and into the evening. However, once the snow ceased on Saturday, requests for help flooded into dispatch

. On Saturday, Dodd said calls related to the weather included multiple minor accidents, several vehicles in the ditch, a jackknifed semitrailer and a tree over the roadway on Franklin Avenue.

Calls continued Sunday with four more vehicles in the ditch and another minor accident.

Fortunately, Dodd said, all calls were answered in a timely manner, no stranded motorist had to spend an extended period of time in his or her vehicle and all accidents were minor and without injury.

“We didn’t have any serious injuries or really any seriously damaged vehicles,” he said. “We just had a lot of people off the roadway.”

Saturday and Sunday’s complications stemmed from heavy, sustained wind that swept through area after a half of foot of snow or more fell in some locations. Winds upwards of 45 miles per hour caused whiteout conditions throughout Saturday and slick surfaces from the weekend’s accumulations remained into Sunday evening.

“I don’t think people realized once they got out on the roads that it’d be zero visibility when the wind would gust,” he said.

Dodd said the complications from the conditions and the length at which they persisted are a good reminder that preparedness is key when venturing out during the winter. He said the best way to prevent accidents or getting stranded is to simply stay home, but understood that’s not always an option.

“With some people, it’s their jobs. Those trucks are trying to get to some place,” he said. “Other people had to get into the country to do their jobs.”

If a trip is necessary, he said, vehicles should be packed with additional warm weather clothing, hats, gloves, water, food and a shovel. A full tank of gas and a fully charged cell phone and charging cables are must-haves as well.

“People think that if something happens, they can just call for help, but if you do have to spend the night in your car, you’ll wish you had a blanket, shoes, hats and gloves,” he said. “We have a lot of people who are really unprepared.”