Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 16, 1993 TAG: 9303160247
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
THE BLIZZARD'S TOLL
At least 10 died in weather-related incidents in Western Virginia. Around Southwest VirginiaDEEP: Virginia's secretary of public safety says the storm will cost taxpayers about $12 million.
This includes the cost of snow removal, shelter operation and National Guard expenses. The cold wave that followed the blizzard set record lows.
In Roanoke, the temperature at the airport at 7:10 a.m. Monday dipped to 9 degrees. That ties the record low for the month set on March 4, 1943.
Other record lows Monday morning: 3 below at Staunton, 2 below at Manassas, 1 below at Dulles International Airport.
OUT: The final count: Roanoke got 16 inches, Blacksburg measured 32 inches.
In parts of Bland County, the snow drifted to 5 feet. In Patrick, the drifts were 10 feet deep.
REPORT: Interstates 77 and 81 were reopened Monday, although traffic was slow and highway officials in Southwest Virginia asked motorists to avoid both roads if they could.
Blacksburg
Virginia Tech forestry Professor Peter Feret died Saturday while shoveling snow.
A busload of 44 teens from Canada, on their way to Daytona Beach, were stranded on Prices Fork Road. They spent Saturday night at the Blacksburg Rescue Squad station and left Sunday.
Bland County
1,871 travelers were stranded Saturday and Sunday when Interstate 77 was closed - 300 of them were forced to spent Saturday night trapped in Big Walker Mountain Tunnel. Later, they and 300 others were evacuated to Bland County High School. The rest were put up at churches and community halls throughout the county. The National Guard brought in food by helicopter. Most of those stranded were able to leave Monday when I-77 was reopened, although 356 remained in shelters.
In Rocky Gap, a man suffered a heart attack while walking through deep snow to feed his dog.
Botetourt County
The body of Martha F. Sowers, 80, was found Monday face-down in the snow in her yard near Fincastle, where she had gone to feed birds.
Carroll County
At one point Monday on the reopened I-77, traffic was backed up for 25 miles into North Carolina. People were out of their cars, playing in the snow, partying with their neighbors in other cars and - in at least one place - playing a game of golf along the highway.
Christiansburg
The roof of the Lowe's store collapsed Sunday.
Galax
The roof of a warehouse collapsed Saturday, damaging some campers and mobile homes stored inside.
Independence
An explosion destroyed the main plant and offices of the Nautilus Inc. exercise-machine company Saturday. The roof collapsed under 36 inches of snow and may have ruptured a propane line. The company says it'll rebuild.
The roof of the Guynn Furniture Store collapsed Sunday.
Radford
The roof of Radford University's Dedmon Center collapsed Saturday.
Roanoke
Frank Lovitt Oliver, 76, died Saturday while shoveling snow in Southwest Roanoke.
James Peters, a homeless man seeking shelter inside the Poff Federal Building, died Saturday, apparently from a heart attack that may have been brought on by the cold.
The roof of the Stanley Furniture Outlet at Towne Square Shopping Center collapsed Sunday.
Rockbridge County
A Pennsylvania motorist, Lloyd Kreider, was killed Saturday morning on Interstate 81 when he got out of his van and was struck by a car.
Rockingham County
Eight hikers from Connecticut who had been in the Shenandoah National Park since Thursday were caught in the storm. Rangers, who used a ski-resort vehicle to cut through drifts of up to 10 feet, found them in good condition inside their tents early Monday.
A 70-year-old Elkton man died of a heart attack Monday while shoveling snow.
Salem
Eugene Bane, 82, of Grundy, died Saturday while shoveling snow.
Vinton
The 3,250-seat Vinton LancerLot collapsed early Sunday morning, only hours after it started to buckle during what might have been the last pro hockey game in the Roanoke Valley. Building owner Henry Brabham says he won't rebuild.
Wise County
Twelve to 15 people who went four-wheeling on High Knob Mountain on Friday were stranded Saturday when snow drifted to 10 feet. They were rescued Saturday night.
A man died from a heart attack Saturday when snow and ice on roads prevented the rescue squad from reaching him in time.
Wythe County
1,406 travelers spent Sunday night in shelters, 795 remained Monday. Among those stranded: An Ohio police chief with a prisoner he had picked up in North Carolina.
Rufus Hedrick, a 74-year-old farmer from Glade, died of a heart attack Sunday while feeding his cattle.
The roof of a vacant store at the Evansham Shopping Center in Wytheville collapsed Monday. The entire shopping center remains closed today, possibly longer.
Keywords:
FATALITY