ROANOKE, Va.—
Roanoke was one of many hometowns hit hard by these storms.Many businesses were left without power in the Valley View area.
Businesses had to adapt without power.
"Sweeping floors, changing trash cans, washing dishes, getting everything ready in case we get power back on," Chris Small, Chick-Fil-A general manager said.
One of the busiest areas in Roanoke took a beating, after damaging winds blew through Valley View Boulevard.
"I saw the trees and I've never seen anything like this in my life, they all kissed the ground," Kathleen Hartman, a Walmart worker said.
Stop lights weren't working Major streets were blocked off because power lines were laying in trees and in the middle of the road.
But caution tape didn't stop some drivers.
"The fire department was out here and they had their chainsaws out and they were cutting up the trees and moving the debris of the road," Hartman said.
The storm came quickly but left many with no power.
Some restaurants and grocery stores were forced to start Saturday's business in the dark.
"We had the emergency lights on for about an hour and a half, they went out so we worked in the dark with flashlights all night," Walmart worker Colleen Crawford said. "It was kind of different to not see customers in there to see it pitch black." :46
So what happens to all the food that can spoil?
"The first thing we did is we transferred a lot of product to another location just for safety reasons and to prevent loss," Small said.
Clean up alone will keep crews and businesses busy over the weekend. Especially if the power isn't restored soon.
