Chattanooga and area residents awoke Monday morning to a winter wonderland. A major snowstorm passing through the area dumped amounts ranging from a few inches to a foot or more of fluffy powder in various parts of the region. The result was predictable. Everyday activities came pretty much to a halt.
Schools, most government offices, businesses, manufacturing plants and offices were closed. Most interstates and major highways were open, but they were snow-packed, making travel difficult. Those traveling them did so cautiously and at low speeds. Most secondary and neighborhood roads were simply impassable, their surfaces unmarred by a single tire track late into the morning. Most people, it seemed, took the advice of public safety officials and avoided travel. Consequently, there were few reports of vehicular accidents.
Despite the heavy snow in many areas, there were few reported power outages. Most residents were able to remain comfortably at home. Some spent time watching the snow, which continued intermittently through much of the afternoon, playing in the snow, gathered around the computer or TV to follow events, playing games or simply savoring an extra day with family or friends. The chance to do so was not unexpected.
Forecasters first warned area residents early last week that snow was a possibility by the coming weekend. They fine-tuned their forecasts as the week progressed, allowing residents to make preparations. There was, of course, the usual run on grocery and other stores that sell items deemed necessary for survival in wintry weather, but the rush, merchants say, seemed a bit less concentrated and more good-natured this time than in similar situations in years past.
Some things, though, never change. More than one grocery store manager reported that his shelves were completely stripped of milk, bread and cereal and that supplies of bananas, pre-packed cold cuts, snack foods and other items believed essential to surviving a day or two at home without a trip to the store were in short supply.