Storm spares Roanoke for the most part
Roanoke escaped the brunt of Hurricane turned “Super Storm” Sandy, although several thousand customers in the valley did lose electrical power after the outer bands of the giant storm system brought high wind gusts to the area.
AEP expected power to be restored by Wednesday (Oct. 31.) Many school systems in the area were closed on Tuesday or had delayed starts to their day. Roanoke was also spared the snowstorm that followed in neighboring West Virginia as tropical moisture from Sandy collided with a cold front.
With much more damage along the Virginia coast than there was locally, Governor Bob McDonnell asked for and received a federal disaster declaration to support emergency efforts. FEMA is now authorized to deploy federal resources if needed by state and local officials.
Amy Whittaker, the Roanoke-based regional public affairs director for the American Red Cross, said that 11,000 people spent Monday night (Oct. 29) in 260 Red Cross shelters nationwide. With less damage locally, Whittaker said volunteers could be sent from the Roanoke Valley chapter’s 50-county region to areas where the impact from Sandy was much greater. “We’re prepared as soon as we know there’s a need,” said Whittaker.
With the cancellation of hundreds of blood drives due to the storm, which ravaged coastal areas in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, among other places, the need to donate blood will also become more important. “It is critical that those in unaffected areas make an appointment to donate blood as soon as possible,” said Dr. Richard Benjamin, Chief Medical Officer for the American Red Cross.
Expect to see all sorts of calls for donations in the coming weeks as the storm’s full impact is realized and the northeast coast of the country begins to slowly rebuild. More than 50 deaths had been attributed to Sandy as of earlier this week.
by Gene Marrano