Montgomery County began digging out Tuesday from a winter storm that dumped more than half a foot of snow across the area, stranding motorists and closing schools and businesses.
The double-punch of messy weather prompted travel restrictions and disrupted COVID-19 vaccines and testing, as residents were urged to stay home for plow crews to clear roads that were drifted shut by the blowing snow.
“It was a losing battle yesterday, but those guys were out there all day,” Montgomery County Sheriff Ryan Needham said Tuesday morning.
The county declared a travel warning Monday night, allowing only emergency vehicles on the road through Tuesday morning. The status was lowered to a travel watch at midday.
“The wind has died down, so that has helped us get ahead of the snow,” county administrator Tom Klein said.
A travel watch means that only essential travel, such as to and from work or in emergency situations, is recommended.
County officials were monitoring the conditions. Updates on the travel advisory status are available at www.in.gov/dhs/traveladvisory/.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of slide-offs, stranded motorists and crashes, but officers were not as busy overnight.
“People truly heeded the warning,” Needham said.
Utility companies reported few power outages after the storm. “Indiana is in good shape for power supply at this time,” said Phil Goode, manager of Crawfordsville Electric Light & Power and chairman of the Indiana Municipal Power Agency.
Schools canceled classes or called an e-learning day and several local restaurants and businesses closed for the day. The Montgomery County Courthouse and other county offices were closed.
The storm forced the Montgomery County Health Department to reschedule hundreds of appointments Monday at the COVID-19 vaccination site on South Boulevard.
The testing site on North Green Street remains closed through today and anyone previously scheduled for a test will be moved to Thursday, the health department said.
