Deep Freeze

HARTINGTON – Blizzard conditions and dangerous wind chills left area residents homebound several days and all roadways in Cedar County closed.

The latest storm – the third in as many weeks – was the most severe yet and impacted the entire eastern half of Nebraska, prompting Gov. Jim Pillen to declare a state emergency.

The Nebraska State Patrol reported assisting nearly 1,000 stranded motorists who thought it was safe to travel in what was described as life-threatening blizzard weather conditions. In Saunders County, an adult and child were stranded overnight Friday, awaiting a heavy-duty snow blower to clear a path. They were eventually rescued at 4 p.m. Saturday.

There were plenty of stranded motorists in Cedar County as well. Every highway in the county was closed Saturday due to drifting snow, making the roads impassable, said Kevin Garvin, the county’s emergency manager.

“Many people did not stay home despite all the information out there indicating the roads were closed or impassable,” he said.

The Nebraska Department of Transportation assisted with plowing roads ahead of ambulances four times so that emergency crews could make it to their destinations, Garvin said. There were also two injury traffic accidents reported.

Garvin said the last time the entire county’s roadway system was closed was for a winter storm around Christmas of 2009.

Many county roads and highways remained closed Sunday and into Monday.

“Crews are doing the best they can with the conditions they have to work with,” Garvin said of wind becoming a factor Monday. “Some roads are open, some are one lane and the Nebraska 511 still shows a few of them closed.”

Extreme cold weather is also causing problems with snowremoving equipment.

“It’s going to take time to get things back to normal,” Garvin said.

An estimated additional 10 inches of snow fell in the storm that began Thursday. When the snow stopped, the wind picked up, leaving drifts six to seven feet deep and higher in places.

Many businesses closed early, opened late or didn’t open at all.

But that wasn’t the case for Hartington’s Stop-N-Go, a convenience store on the south edge of town.

Sam Schrempp, Fordyce, was working Thursday when blizzard conditions started and ended up staying at the business until he returned home Sunday.

“I knew I couldn’t get back to Fordyce,” the longtime employee said. “I don’t like to take chances anymore.”

While other employees couldn’t make it in to work, Schrempp kept the business open its normal hours, 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., sleeping on a cot in the business’ back room.

“A lot of the time, we were the only business open,” he said.

Schools in the area remained closed Friday and Monday.

Area schools had not had a snow day this school year until last week’s storm hit. They’ve now had five snow days. On the two days they were able to hold classes, they had a late start one day and an early dismissal on the other.

Although the forecast calls for a warmup next week, this latest storm likely served as a reminder to take winter weather seriously.

NSP said in-between storms is the perfect time to prepare a winter weather survival kit to place in vehicles. Suggested items include a first-aid kit, a phone charger, ice scraper, shovel, small bag of sand, flashlight, blankets or sleeping bags, extra clothing and winter accessories, jumper cables, tow rope, tool kit, red flag or bandana, high energy or dehydrated foods, and bottled water.

Garvin said he understands some travel is necessary for medical reasons or employment.

“The best advice we can give people is - know before you go,” he said.

Motorists should check the Nebraska 511 system for updated travel conditions throughout the state before attempting to travel in winter weather.

“Be prepared to be stuck for several hours if you choose to travel when the weather is bad,” Garvin said. “If travel is not advised or the roads are listed as impassable, it is a wonderful idea to stay home.”

Any motorist who becomes stranded can call the NSP Highway Helpline at *55 or 800-5255555 and speak directly with an NSP dispatcher. If you become stranded on the road, stay with your vehicle and call for help. The vehicle is the best shelter from the elements and is the easiest thing for emergency personnel to spot while looking for a stranded motorist.

– The Nebraska Examiner contributed to this story.