MONETA, Va. (WFXR)—In the aftermath of the winter storm that ripped through Virginia, tens of thousands of people were left without power, including over 7,600 homes in Moneta, one of the hardest-hit areas.
The storm downed trees and power lines, and some residents could not think of a worse storm since living in the area.
“This storm has been the worst in 30 years that I have been here,” Karen Burroughs, a Moneta resident, said. “I have five trees down in my yard, none of them hit my house though, and I’ve never had anything like this, lost power yesterday at 7:00 in the morning and it’s still out.”
Others are in similar situations as Burroughs, having never lost power for this long.
It’s a storm they will never forget.
“I’ve learned that you shouldn’t depend on electric as much as we do,” Fred Brigeman, another Moneta resident, said. “I’ve learned that we are able to survive without the common things that people take for granted.”
Scruggs Volunteer Fire and Rescue responded to this by opening its facility as a warming center to help others. It had hot meals, snacks and a place to charge electronics.
Burroughs said her house was 46 degrees when she left for the warming center to charge her phone and tablet. She said she’s very thankful.
“I want to thank Scruggs Volunteer Fire Department for what they do for us because they are the best,” Burroughs said.
With the amount of help the community has done for them, department members see this as the least they can do.
“Our community is wonderful to us,” Melaine Moore, a support worker with the Department and one of the organizers of the warming center, said. “They support us monetarily and they help provide all of the things that you see around our station, our equipment is purchased through donations.”
According to Appalachian Power’s most recent statement, they hope to restore power to Moneta homes by 6:00 p.m. on Thursday.