MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — As snow fell Saturday road crews across the Eastern Panhandle were struggling to stay one step ahead.
Director of the Berkeley County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Eddie Gochenour said that crews have been working to clear roads since snow began at 1:00 p.m. Friday, but the wind has made it difficult.
We’re not in too good a shape, Gochenour said. “The main roads like Route 11, Route 9, (Route) 45 are passable. The back roads, our rural routes, they have not been touched. ”
Gochenour said emergency responders had asked for Humvees to use during the storm, but Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin had not released them for use as of this morning.
“We’re getting, I think, to a critical point,” Gochenour said. “Our responses will be very delayed or crippled.”
Meanwhile, in Jefferson County an issue with their fuel system put their efforts about two hours behind this morning.
Brandon Vallee at the Jefferson County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management said they worked with Jefferson County Schools to clear up the issue, but it put them even further behind as they deal with the same struggles as Berkeley County.
Both counties have set up emergency shelters.
Jefferson County has announced an additional citizen hotline for the Emergency Operation Center at both 304-728-6345 and 304-725-7151.
Total snow fall could exceed three feet in places.
Windy conditions are expected to continue overnight.
Residents are advised to watch for drifting snow and stay off the roads as much as possible.