Work doesn't stop for many Gaston residents, even during heavy snow

The snowy deluge that blanketed Gaston County Wednesday and Thursday prevented most people from going to work, leaving them free to frolic in the flakes or huddle inside their homes. But real world responsibilities didn’t stop for plenty of employees who plowed ahead with their jobs out of a mixture of dedication and obligation.

Convenience personified: At the Kangaroo Express in Belmont late Thursday morning, Assistant Manager Jennifer Hallman could only spare a minute to two to speak about the business they were seeing. The line at the cash register was extending that quickly. “We’re about the only store in Belmont that’s open,” she said. “That’s what all the customers have been coming in and saying.”

The 24-hour convenience store at the corner of Wilkinson Boulevard and Park Street stayed true to form, never closing after the snow began accumulating Wednesday. Hallman ended her shift at 2 a.m. Thursday, and then came back about eight hours later because other employees couldn’t make it in. “I live a block away,” she said.

The Dunkin Donuts connected to the gas station wasn’t open. But customers were still making sure Hallman and her co-workers got their pastry fix.“ A lot of customers have been coming in just to check on us and bring us food and everything,” she said. “Things like doughnuts, pizza and cookies they made.”

There were no plans to call it quits, even as heavy, fluffy flakes continued falling into the afternoon. “We’re staying open as long as the power stays on,” Hallman said.

Keeping stomachs warm: In downtown Belmont, Faith Wallace unlocked the door at Caravan Coffee about 9:30 a.m. She walked to work in the winter wonderland from her home about a mile away. A handful of adults had made it in by late morning in search of critical cold-weather sustenance.

“Coffee and hot chocolate,” said a cheery Wallace. “That’s what we’re selling.”

In between brewing and pouring, Wallace watched as occasionally hapless drivers tried to navigate through the mess outside on Main Street. “One person tried to park on the side of the street and they got stuck,” she said. “There’s so much snow piled up between the parking spaces.”

She expected business to pick up later in the day as more people ventured out. “I think we’re one of the only places open down here,” she said. “We’re just playing it by ear, hanging out.”

Emergency responders still going hard: The work of paramedics and emergency service personnel doesn’t stop for bad weather. At the headquarters of Gaston Emergency Medical Services on Highland Street in Gastonia, Major Steve Skipper said that was clear when he arrived for a long shift about 6:30 a.m. “It’s hectic right now,” he said. “Call-wise, it’s not been too bad. It’s just getting units to the calls we’re getting.”

Skipper, a quality improvement coordinator, had to travel out to a handful of scenes where ambulances and other GEMS vehicles had gotten stuck. “It’s physically going out there and helping them to shovel snow away from the tires,” he said. “We had one that got stuck on Highland Street. I was able to walk to that one.”

GEMS paramedics are equipped with heavy gear that enables them to work in such conditions, such as heavy boots, coats, gloves and hats. All-terrain tires on the department’s trucks, ambulances and quick-response vehicles allow them to get through most snow that would snarl typical cars. “We’re getting the trucks out there,” said Skipper. “But it’s a little bit slower in this kind of weather. Most people seemed to be heeding the warnings to stay inside. “We’ve had a few people stranded out there, but no real medical issues tied to it, so that’s good,” he said.

Skipper typically works a 10-hour shift, but was prepared to go much longer Thursday. The department was “staffed up,” with even more people working than a regular workday, he said.

“We come in and work until we’re not needed any longer,” he said.

You can reach Michael Barrett at 704-869-1826 or on Twitter @GazetteMike.

4 inches: That’s how much snow the National Weather Service reported fell in Gastonia between Wednesday morning and Thursday afternoon. How much did you measure? Let us hear from you at GastonGazette.com or on The Gazette’s Facebook page.