Clifton Forge blanketed by over a foot of snow

CLIFTON FORGE, Va. (WDBJ) - The town of Clifton Forge is still blanketed by snow after being hit hard by Tuesday’s winter storm. Some people in the town tell WDBJ7 they measured more than 15 inches of snow in their yards.

The town was essentially shut down due to the weather Tuesday, but Wednesday, its businesses were opening back up and people were helping one another clear the streets and dig their cars out of the snow.

“The main roads are getting there. Up on the backstreets over there, they were beginning to come clear a little bit, but we’re digging out up here, we got a lot more snow than Roanoke and those guys down in Christiansburg,” said Jan Coffey, who lives in Selma, about three miles from Clifton Forge.

Coffey said she came out to Clifton Forge to help one of her friends shovel out neighbors’ homes.

“Today everybody is just trying to dig out and stuff. Up on Bath Street, there are a lot of people helping one another out. We haven’t had this much snow here in Clifton Forge and Alleghany in a long time, it came really quick, but at least people are trying to help one another dig out here,” she said.

Local businesses around the town like, Michael’s New York Style Pizza, were looking to make up for lost revenue Wednesday after being closed due to the snow Tuesday.

“We didn’t want anybody trying to risk their lives trying to get into work because we have some of our workers that live in Covington and we’re in Clifton out in the county, so we went ahead and closed. But yeah, we’re ready to get some business today, but it’s been good already. I think everybody is ready to get out and get some pizza,” said Jim Hodges, owner of Michael’s New York Style Pizza.

Wednesday, the restaurant’s owner and employees got in early to shovel snow and dig out the restaurant. It was also able to resume making deliveries.

“We’re trying to make some paths through the plowed stuff on Main Street so people can actually get into the restaurant and then out back, so our food trucks can get in. So it’s been a little bit of work, and then getting out of my house was enough. But it’s not too bad,” said Hodges.

Some Clifton Forge neighbors were enjoying the snow more than others. John Moser was out and about with his snow blower, helping out people and businesses that needed it.

“I love it. There wasn’t even enough; I’d like to see three feet, but there are people that can’t handle it. I have two vehicles that can get me around, so it’s not going to stop me from doing what I need to do,” said Moser, who lives in Clifton Forge.

Elsewhere in the town, the Clifton Forge Fire Department and Volunteer Rescue Squad are hosting warming shelters. The shelters will continue to operate through Thursday for anyone in the area who loses power.