The day after
Cape Region residents are digging out Jan. 4 after a strong winter storm that dropped up to a foot of snow on portions of the area.
Folks better keep their shovels handy, as snow is in the forecast again for Friday morning.
During a Jan. 4 press conference, Gov. John Carney said he did not declare a driving state of emergency for the state because the snow was primarily located downstate. He said a group meets to monitor storms and determine whether to close down businesses or roadways based on a storm’s progress and operational needs.
“Decision was made to defer to caution with a statewide look when, as it turned out, the bulk of the storm was in central Delaware and lower Delaware,” Carney said.
A.J. Schall, Delaware Emergency Management Agency director, said it was a fast-moving storm and the line of the storm changed. Once snow falls, he said, it is counterproductive to place driving restrictions on roadways. “It was isolated and DelDOT relocated snowplows and crews from up north to down south as soon as they feasibly could to make sure there wasn’t going to be residual issues there,” Schall said.
Snowfall totals as reported by the National Weather Service were: Ellendale, 14 inches; Georgetown, 12.5 inches; Bridgeville, 12 inches; Milton, 11.6 inches; Milford, 10 inches; Millsboro, 9 inches; Lewes, 7 inches; Rehoboth Beach, 6 inches; and Long Neck, 5 inches.
Argos corner pile-up
Firefighters responding to a house fire at 1:54 p.m. on Wildflower Lane off Route 1 had some tricky traveling, according to the Delmarva Firefighter Forum.
Crews from Milton, Ellendale, Milford, Slaughter Beach and Lewes responded to the scene but several apparatus were delayed en route because of abandoned cars along the snowy roadways, the forum stated.
One fire engine crew reported that a car pulled out in front of it near Argo’s Corner, causing the engine to skid broadside across Route 1, which blocked the path of other engines heading south on Route 1, the forum stated.
