2009: Christmas storm strands area residents
Dec. 30, 2009
HARTINGTON — The Christmas of 2009 was definitely one for the books.
Even though the National Weather Service predicted the storm three days in advance of it hitting Cedar County, people still tried to travel during the holidays which resulted in numerous accidents and stranded people.
Hartington ambulance, Hartington Fire, the Nebraska State Patrol, Nebraska State Dept. of Roads and the Cedar County Emergency Management team worked together to help cover accidents and rescue stranded motorists due to accidents on Highway 81, according to Emergency Management Director Kevin Garvin.
Close to 20 stranded motorists were rescued from the storm on Christmas Day.
Two state snow plows, along with two Hartington ambulances, made it out to Hwy. 81 to rescue people who were stranded due to traffic accidents.
“We made two separate trips. Two ambulances went out on the first trip – we didn’t know how many people were out there,” said Hartington EMT Carol Hamilton. “One ambulance went back on the second trip. We brought them back to Hartington.”
Two people stayed at Bob and Carol Hamilton’s house and a family of four were housed in their rental property. Seven adults and two kids stayed in another rental house, while Dick and Jolene Donner took in two adults at their house.
On Saturday the Hartington ambulance made a transport to the hospital in Yankton.
“The state plow went all the way to Yankton and back with us,” said Hamilton.
On Christmas Eve a call was received that a vehicle was stuck and people were stranded in Dixon County on Hwy. 20 near the Cedar/Dixon County line. Snow plows from the State Dept. of Roads and the Laurel ambulance were able to reach the people and they were taken to Laurel.
Cedar County Commissioner Dave McGregor estimated there were between 18 -20 inches of snow that was dumped on Cedar County over the Christmas holiday.
“It is unbelievable – this is a tremendous amount of snow. A whole winter’s worth of snow came at one time,” said Mc-Gregor. “Everyone seems to be okay. I am thankful the power stayed on.”
McGregor has taken calls from people wanting to get back home and farmers with stranded cattle but there were not any calls dealing with life threatening emergencies.
McGregor said it will take a tremendous amount of work for the road department to get the county roads open.
Snow accompanied by strong winds kept the road crew off the roads on Thursday, Christmas day and part of Saturday.
The plows left the shop at Hartington between 11 a.m. and noon on Saturday to start clearing snow off the roads.
“The plows headed out at daylight on Sunday and Monday mornings.” McGregor said. “Some areas are bare and then there are huge drifts to get through.”
Commissioner Frederick Pinkelman said this has been the worst winter storm he remembers seeing since 1968.