By Staff Reports
A potentially historic winter storm forecast to bring heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain passed through Patrick County without requiring the use of any of the county’s seven warming centers, officials said.
Emergency Management Director Scottie Cassell said widespread power outages never materialized, reducing the need for residents to seek shelter.
“Once off, my understanding is crews were able to restore it fairly quickly,” Cassell said. “Luckily, we got sleet instead of the freezing rain they were calling for, so we didn’t get ice accumulation that would have brought trees down.”
Cassell said emergency services continue to monitor high winds this week, which could still cause outages and prompt the use of warming centers.
With temperatures expected to remain cold throughout the week, Cassell said icy road conditions may persist and be potentially dangerous to motorists.
“It’s going to be hard for the ice to melt, and once it does, it’s going to refreeze overnight because temperatures will be in the 20s and teens all week,” he said. “Everybody just needs to be careful when they do get out.”
Cassell credited the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for its response, noting that major roads were passable as crews worked on secondary routes.
“VDOT is doing a great job so far,” he said. “The main roads are passable and looking good. They’re working on secondary roads now, so hopefully we’ll be able to get some normalcy back soon.”
According to the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, the cold temperatures that prompted a Cold Weather Advisory Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 26-27, are forecast to remain throughout the week, with lows in the single digits.
In a social media post over the weekend, the Jeb Stuart Rescue Squad thanked VDOT for “helping us safely reach our destination. Your assistance made a real difference, and we truly appreciate the support you provide to emergency responders every day.”