Sky News reporter Claire Bates was forced to find refuge in a roadside motel in New York State after being caught in the winter blizzard that has hit the US.
We limped past abandoned trucks, downed power lines and even pulled-over police cars in near-zero visibility, to the nearest town, where we found one of those ubiquitous US interstate-side chain hotels. There was room at the inn. 'Room'... One.In the lobby were dozens of power line workers - some had driven from Texas - who had been called to help restore electricity to the thousands without any.
One told me he'd been up a pole and because it was so brittle due to the -34C temperatures, it had simply snapped under his weight. A drift caught his fall, but he had been ordered to rest inside for the remainder of the day.They even attempted a 'holiday cocktail' with what was left in the bar, with a cherry on a cocktail stick and"plenty of ice".
The blizzard outside battered the windows. Our dogs tentatively walked out to pee but had to be carried back in, just seconds later, their feet burned by the ice.As we sat around the fire by the reception desk, people shared their stories of where they'd come from and where they were going. A young man heading to his girlfriend's home showed me a small square box in his backpack.The hotel chef had been on duty for four days and nights straight.
We hunkered down overnight and, unlike many others in this once-in-a-generation storm, we were safe and warm. Christmas morning has now arrived. My teens are still asleep and I'm thankful they are not the age of the wee one with her roller skates because although they are sad, they are resigned and understand."Yes!," she said."He knew he had to deliver them here instead of Auntie Pat's".Related Topics
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