Snowpocalypse

SNOWPOCALYPSE

A JANUARY WINTER STORM THAT STARTED AS A DUSTING QUICKLY TURNED INTO A FURY OF SNOW AND ICE CHANGING THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS LIVING IN AND AROUND THE BIRMINGHAM AREA.

THE COVER: Traffic is at a standstill on Interstate 65 northbound as officials work to clear abandoned vehicles Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014 in Hoover, Ala. (AP Photo/Hal Yeager)

Birmingham News | 1 I-20 459 interchange near Leeds Wednesday, January 29, 2014. (Tamika Moore | [email protected])

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ISBN 978-1-57571-999-3

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Director of Publications: Jeff Glick Editor: John Hall Editor: Carl Bates Editor: Don Taylor Editor: David Magee Art Director: Tom Peyton Photographers: Frank Couch, Tamika Moore, Joe Songer, Mark Almond and Scott Walker

Alabama Media Group 2201 4th Ave North Birmingham, Alabama 35203 205-325-2237 Printed in the United States

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Birmingham News | 5 East Lake Blvd is covered in ice near the Birmingham- Shuttlesworth International Airport, Wednesday, January 29, 2014. (Tamika Moore | [email protected])

6 | Birmingham News CONTENTS MOMENTS

FOReWoRD: 4 THE FORECAST: 8 HEROeS; THE DOCTOR: 24 HEROeS; THE FATHER: 30 WHY?: 36 THE WAFFLE HOUSE: 44 FREE CHICKEN: 48 MAKE SHIFT “ER”: 50 SCHOOL SLEEPOVER: 56 SPANN’S MISTAKE: 58 SAFE HAVENS: 64 ONE MORE TIME: 68 EPILOGUE: 72

Birmingham News | 7 8 | Birmingham News THE FORECAST ‘A light dusting of snow’ what began with an inaccurate forecast quickly snowballed into two days of chaos Birmingham won’t soon forget

By Jon Solomon | [email protected] commuted to their offices, and I-20 near Leeds life continued as normal even Wednesday, January 29, 2014. haos requires a starting as some heavy snowflakes fell. (Tamika Moore | point. To connect the What transpired next figures to [email protected]) Cdots through a once-in-a- be talked about in Alabama for generation weather event, there decades to come. must be a first dot that triggers a “Remember the dusting of chain of events. chaos of 2014?” Fairly or unfairly, memories We’ll remember the feeling of the paralysis of the of helplessness — motorists Birmingham metropolitan stranded on every imaginable area from 1 to 2 inches of snow major highway; children stuck will always begin with James in schools or, even worse, on Spann, who was joined by the buses; loved ones gone missing, “There will be a light dusting of snow and no travel complications in Birmingham.” Meteorologist James Spann

National Weather Service and most likely because cell phones other forecasters in making died; people sleeping in hotel inaccurate weather projections. fitness rooms, the aisles of Tuesday, Jan. 28 was convenience stores, and even supposed to be a normal day inside their cars as gas tanks in Birmingham. The heaviest ran low. snow was projected for the We’ll remember our personal southern parts of the state, not snow stories. They’re captured central and northern Alabama. forever by technology that

Kids went to school, workers wasn’t here for Alabama’s last t

Birmingham News | 9 10 | Birmingham News dramatic winter storm in 1993, blameless, either.“I’m going to January 28, 2014. when over 1 foot of snow and try to find a crystal ball so I can Traffic travels along I-20/59 heavy winds knocked out power try to find out how to predict near downtown and paralyzed much of the state the weather in the future, so Birmingham. for days. (Driving tip free of we’ll have an extra value to our (Tamika Moore | [email protected]) charge: If you’re going up a hill, ability to know what’s going on,” commit and don’t stop or you risk Birmingham Mayor William Bell a personal dusting of chaos.) said. We’ll remember the Good Chaos never announces itself. Samaritans — there were so And that’s what made those two many of them, just like after the days so harrowing. tornadoes of 2011. Their warmth in the snow connected Alabama Stranded motorists through good deeds. Someone help Some of the stories that WAFFLE HOUSE INDEX came out of this storm were How bad did this storm get? heartbreaking. A Facebook page Two of the 16 Waffle House for stranded motorists reflected restaurants in the Birmingham the panic and sometimes dire area were closed at one point — situations, and also became a the Five Points location on 20th tool to help people stuck in the Street South and the location on snow. Oak Mountain Road in Pelham. “I have a friend stranded That’s code for trouble, according on Lakeshore exit,” read one to the Federal Emergency message. “She is a diabetic and Management Agency, which has no insulin with her, anyone informally uses a Waffle House close by that can help her?” Index to determine the severity of Read another message: “Trying a disaster area. Who knew FEMA to get to Irondale. dog that has actually measures disasters by epilepsy & has to have seizure whether it’s possible to order medication. Is anyone in Irondale chicken and waffles? that could break in my house?” With weather forecasts off And another: “About three target, most of the heavy snow miles from Vestavia exit. 2 equipment to deal with state parents, 1 pregnant 21 year old, highways was prematurely 3 year old & 8 year old cancer moved south of Montgomery, survivor with no spleen . . . where the Alabama Emergency someone help” Management Agency believed These stories occurred the largest amount of snow would throughout the region, where fall. The equipment was turned major highways such as around and brought to Jefferson Interstate 65, Interstate 459, County around 6 a.m. Jan. 29. Interstates 20/59 and U.S. The finger-pointing and Highway 280 turned into parking performance evaluations lots on ice. Drivers faced choices will come at forecasters, they rarely encounter. municipalities and even At the time, no one knew for

unprepared citizens. We’re not sure the right answer. Do you t

Birmingham News | 11 12 | Birmingham News leave work early amid the chaos through 7 a.m. Jan. 29. In Hoover, I-20 near Leeds when so many people hit the police and firefighters rescued Wednesday, January 29, 2014. roads at once, or stay at your more than 200 people from the (Tamika Moore | downtown office and don’t interstate. [email protected]) bother braving the traffic? Do you call it quits while on Business people had office the road and find shelter early sleepovers across the area. At the by abandoning your car and Southeastern Conference office walking, or do you keep crawling in downtown Birmingham, about along and hope traffic eventually 10 to 15 people stayed the night, moves? including Commissioner Mike Kelly Garner, a 46-year-old Slive and some ESPN officials Vestavia Hills man with Type 1 in town for meetings.“Was fun- diabetes, had a choice to make. ish one time,” SEC Executive According to police, he chose to Associate Commissioner Greg help other stranded motorists on Sankey posted on Twitter before U.S. 31. Then he went missing for heading home. “Any more than more than 12 hours. Garner was one time would not be fun.” finally found in a ravine behind Do you gamble that your car a library — alive and conscious “Was funish one time.” Any more than one time would not be fun.” SEC Executive Associate Commissioner Greg Sankey, post about the SEC winter sleepover is one of the lucky ones that can and talking, but with a broken navigate up that icy hill, or do back and bleeding on his brain. you play it safe based on what Countless people throughout transpired with cars in front of the Birmingham area made you? similar choices to help. ATV Some cars in Mountain Brook owners became some of the horrifically slid off Overton Road most valuable people since their and into the Cahaba River. A vehicles can often navigate photo circulated of the tops of treacherous roads. cars barely over water while In Hoover, some volunteers on framed by what would otherwise ATVs stayed up until 3:30 a.m. be a picturesque scene of winter Jan. 29 to transport stranded in Birmingham. motorists from Morgan Road. Between 11 a.m. Jan. 28 and 8 Then those same people helped a.m. Jan. 29, Birmingham police citizens hours later on South worked 189 traffic accidents Shades Crest Road, which looked and had 282 calls for service. more like a chaotic car dealership That included rescues of two than a parking lot due to several sets of school children stranded accidents and abandoned on buses.Birmingham sheriff’s cars.“This is worse than 1993,” deputies worked 239 traffic one volunteer said, “because you

accidents from 7 a.m. Jan. 28 didn’t see this coming.” t

Birmingham News | 13 Visibility and traffic are low on I-65 north near the 210 mile marker near Clanton, Alabama, Tuesday January 28, 2014. (Frank Couch/ [email protected])

14 | Birmingham News HOW DID THE SNOW CHAOS REACH THIS POINT? The average salary for a school teacher in Alabama is $47,949, which ranks 39th in the U.S., according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The week of the storm, teachers and administrators stayed overnight to watch 11,375 of our kids throughout Alabama when no one could get them. Think about that the next time teachers, with families of their own to worry about, ask for raises. The bulk of the stranded students came from Hoover, where more than 4,000 students stayed overnight. By the evening of Jan. 29, all students “It shows where their hearts are, and the dedication they have to their students.” State Superintendent, Tommy Brice in Alabama had been reunited with their families. The Alabama School of Fine Arts took in more than 80 students, parents and a few strangers who were stranded or left to go home and had to return. The teachers watched the students with smiles and comfort. They turned potential nightmares for young kids into fun adventures as surrogate moms and dads. That’s simply how many teachers are wired. “They’re just heroes,” State Superintendent Tommy Bice said. “It shows where their hearts are, and the dedication they have to their students.

SO HOW DID IT EVEN REACH THIS POINT? How did it come about that

teachers needed to be overnight t

Birmingham News | 15 Video shot by a private drone operator shows stalled traffic and stranded motorists on Interstate 459 near Liberty Park in Vestavia Hills, Ala., near midnight on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014. Stranded motorists are warming themselves by a fire on the side of the interstate in bottom right corner. (Still shot from video by Kevin Henderson/Alabama Aerial Photography)

Aerial of I-65 near near US 31, Wednesday, January 29, 2014. (Tamika Moore | [email protected])

16 | Birmingham News heroes, motorists had to scramble can be devastating. for shelter, and the Birmingham “I think that people should be area was crippled by a small prepared,” Alabama Gov. Robert amount of snow much like Bentley said. Atlanta? “Unfortunately we come to a The truth is, the Deep South place where we become forgetful isn’t very prepared for even and this happened very quickly, minimal amounts of snow. this front moved in very quickly. Different municipalities and It’s difficult to always prepare for the state can’t even agree in the things like this.” aftermath on how to handle Meteorologist Mark Linhares abandoned cars that get towed, of the National Weather Service with the city of Leeds twisting said the weather system moved in the wind over its actions and faster and farther north than statements. models predicted. Bell, Birmingham’s mayor, Models didn’t show just how said some tow truck drivers large the storm was in reality. illegally towed stranded vehicles The storm arrived several hours to impounds or other facilities before models predicted and “Unfortunately we come to a place where we become forgetful and this happened very quickly, this front moved in very quickly. It’s difficult to always prepare for things like this.” Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and incorrectly claimed they are the freezing temperatures made authorized by the state. roads slick once the snow landed. Meanwhile, Leeds said Like almost everyone else abandoned cars were towed the in Birmingham, Spann faced night of Jan. 28 and owners had choices as his non-event to pay a fee to retrieve them in prediction turned into an event order to compensate the wrecker that impacted so many people. service. Spann abandoned his car to Then Leeds said the state will reach the ABC 33/40 television reimburse the costs, but the station to go on air. He later governor’s office denied that’s the apologized for his initial forecast, case. calling it his most significant bust Confused? Welcome to since January 1982. Birmingham in the snow. When Only in Alabama could a unexpected white stuff sticks and weather forecaster compare the gets coupled with a lack of snow vitriol directed his way to how a equipment, massive amounts of college football kicker felt after people on the highway at once, missing some field goals. and inexperienced snow drivers “Do NOT vent at school officials

navigating many hills, the results or your boss,” Spann wrote on t

Birmingham News | 17 Ice forms on the bed of a dump truck that is distributing the mixture on the roads. Shelby County Highway Department workers load trucks that are distributing a mix of fine stone aggregate and calcium chloride mix that helps melt the ice and provide traction for vehicles. Wednesday January 29, 2014. (Frank Couch/fcouch@ al.com

18 | Birmingham News Birmingham News | 19 his blog. “They make decisions on weather forecasts, and what they got was bad information. I am the one to blame. I guess I know how Cade Foster feels (the University of Alabama place kicker who took heat after the Auburn game).” Some people had no choices in the snow. Birth and death wait on no disaster. After Darshay Jones called for help Jan. 28 while going into labor, the ambulance that responded was involved in an accident. So a Birmingham police dispatcher talked Jones through the birth of her third child, a baby daughter.Dr. “Do NOT vent at school officials or your boss. They make decisions on weather forecasts, and what they got was bad information. I am the one to blame.” Spann wrote on his blog

Zenko Hrynkiw was at Brookwood Medical Center the morning of Jan. 28 when he was needed for emergency brain surgery at Trinity Medical Center. So he started walking — colleagues alerted authorities to find him — and journeyed six miles in the snow to perform life-saving brain surgery. We would do well to also remember this: Amid the dusting of chaos emerged life.

AL.com reporters Jeremy Gray, Mike Oliver, Marie Leech, Carol Robinson, Bob Carlton, Madison Underwood, Julie McKinney, Alex Walsh, Kelsey Stein, Jon Anderson and Debbie Lord contributed to this article.

20 | Birmingham News TOP: Snow storms hit Alabama Tuesday January 28, 2014. Motorists couldn’t make it up the steep grade of I-20 just east of Brompton causing a bottle neck of vehicles at the foot of the hill. (Joe Songer/jsonger@ al.com).

LEFT: East Lake Blvd. is covered in ice near the Birmingham- Shuttlesworth International Airport, Wednesday, January 29, 2014. (Tamika Moore | [email protected])

Birmingham News | 21 22 | Birmingham News Snow storms hit Alabama Tuesday January 28, 2014. Motorists couldn’t make it up the steep grade of I-20 just east of Brompton causing a bottle neck of vehicles at the foot of the hill. (Joe Songer/ [email protected]).

Birmingham News | 23 Dr. Zenko Hrynkiw describes his six- mile trek during the snow storm Tuesday January 28, during an interview Thursday January 30, 2014. (Frank Couch/fcouch@ al.com)

24 | Birmingham News THE HEROES: THE DOCTOR LIFE-SAVING wa lK IN THE SNOW 62-YEAR-OLD BRAIN SURGEON WALKS SIX MILES IN STORM TO PERFORM LIFE-SAVING BRAIN SURGERY

By Mike Oliver | [email protected] paralyzing snowstorm and a stop to sit in an ambulance to warm r. Zenko Hrynkiw won- up from the below 20-degree ders what all the fuss is weather. Dabout. Why did he do it? The doctor who walked six The doctor had a dying patient miles in the snow to perform at Trinity and he was stuck at emergency life-saving brain sur- Brookwood. He saw the patient’s gery said any good doctor would CT scans over his wireless phone. do it. “He had a 90 percent chance “It really wasn’t that big of a of dying,” Hrynkiw said based on deal,” Hrynkiw, a neurosurgeon what he saw. at Trinity Medical Center, said. So he decided to walk. The publicity shy physician The 62-year-old doctor, who submitted to a news conference has had a liver transplant, said he “It really wasn’t that big of a deal.” Dr. Zenko Hrynkiw, on his six-mile walk in wintry conditions to perform life-saving brain surgery two days after after the story of never doubted he would make it. his Jan. 28 walk drew national at- “It was kind of a nice day for a tention. walk,” said Hrynkiw, who plays He gave details of the 6-mile tennis and walks to stay in shape. walk in the snow from one hospi- Hrynkiw said he looked at it as tal — Brookwood Medical Center a journey. where he was assisting another “It was kind of a fun journey, brain surgeon — to another, Trin- unfortunately I had my slip-ons ity, dressed in hospital scrubs. and my scrubs ... so I was not re- The journey included stops to ally geared for my adventure.” help push stranded motorists He said it got cold and when he stuck in the roadway due to the

saw an ambulance he sat there t

Birmingham News | 25 The drive at Flower Hill on the campus of the University of Montevallo, Tuesday January 28, 2014. (Frank Couch/ [email protected])

26 | Birmingham News and warmed up until he realized he wasn’t getting anywhere. “I walk a lot so it really wasn’t that big a deal,” he said. Lisa Grupe, a private school teacher was walking with two students home to Homewood when she en- countered Hrynkiw. “We stopped briefly to chat with him because at that point on the road, it was rare to see anyone,” said Grupe, director of the Alabama Waldorf School. “I recognized Dr. Hrynkiw because he walks the path in front of Trinity often as I am driving by. He is very recognizable because he doesn’t wear a hat. ... It’s “Unfortunately I had my slip-ons and my scrubs. . . So I was not really geared for my adventure.” Dr. Zenko Hrynkiw pretty wild he was on the way to save someone’s life.” Keith Granger, CEO of Trinity, said Hrynkiw is humble, but it was more of a feat than the doctor describes. “It was not just a walk in the park,” Granger said. Given the conditions, the temperatures and the terrain, “it’s a re- markable physical feat and mental feat. And we have an individual alive today who wouldn’t be here if not for his efforts.”

Birmingham News | 27 28 | Birmingham News A strong winter storm is beginning to dump snow and ice in central and southern Alabama Tuesday January 28, 2014. (Frank Couch/ [email protected])

Birmingham News | 29 THE HEROS: THE FATHER AGAINST THE STORM FOR HIS FAMILY with plenty of help from strangers, father treks 20 miles to reunite with his four children.

Jesse Chambers | [email protected] wood Hospital. “I figured I would go to the of- he brutal winter storm fice and work,” said Morris, who that hammered Birming- sells building materials. Tham and a big swath of About 10:30 a.m., Morris left Alabama on Jan. 28 became one the office in his pickup truck to of those events that can test us. get his wife and try to make it The storm, which came on with home before the snow hit hard. terrifying and unexpected sud- However, he wouldn’t make it denness, forced many people in to the hospital until about 2:30 the Birmingham area — especial- p.m. — a four-hour ordeal that is ly commuters — to quickly mea- normally a 10-to-15-minute trip. sure the depths of their resource- Morris said it was surprising fulness and, in some cases, even how quickly after the snow start- their courage. ed falling that it began to wreak Andrew Morris, 32, of Helena, a havoc. “It happened that fast,” he husband and father of four kids, said. “It overtook everybody.” took on what most people would The couple badly wanted to see as a daunting physical chal- go pick up their kids from day lenge in order to make his way care or school — Lucy, Nathalie, to his children on that terrible Joshua and Kimsey — so they afternoon. wouldn’t be stranded. But the winter storm and the ON FOOT traffic nightmares it created He took off on foot from the seemed to make that impossible. Brookwood Hospital area in “We tried to get back to a major order to cover the 20 miles that road that would take us home,” separated him from the kids, who he said. were in day care or school in Hel- However, U.S. 280 and U.S. ena. 31 were blocked, and there was But the journey really began “gridlock back to I-65,” Morris that morning, when Morris took said.

his wife, Holly, to work at Brook- “Holly and I made the deci- t

30 | Birmingham News Students load buses Andrew Morris started off walking on what prom- after spending the night at the Shelby ised to be an epic journey through suburbs that County School of Technology, had been turned into a brutal obstacle course by Wednesday January 29, 2014. (Frank Couch/ the snow and ice. [email protected])

Birmingham News | 31 Pedestrians bundle up in the cold Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014, on Fourth Avenue North in downtown Birmingham. (Scott Walker | swalker@ al.com/al.com

32 | Birmingham News sion that she would stay at the Helena? hospital and be a source of com- And the journey to Riverside munication with the phone, and Baptist was complicated by the I told her I would hitchhike as closing of a bridge on a main far as I could, and then run and road. “Only ATVs were going walk, and I started on my way to through,” Morris said. Helena,” said Morris, who bought Then Morris and his son caught some additional clothing and another break when they met other items at Target. two men driving by in a four-seat An avid runner who often cov- AT V. ers 4 to 6 miles at a time and even “They happened to be going to completed a marathon, Morris Riverside, which was just a cou- seemed up to the challenge. ple of miles away, and then they He started off walking on what stayed with us and carried me promised to be an epic journey and my son and my two youngest through suburbs that had been (girls) to my house,” Morris said turned into a brutal obstacle And daughter Kimsey was safe, course by the snow and ice. as well. She had stayed with her After walking for about a half teacher and her teacher’s daugh- mile, Morris got a ride to the Gal- ter. leria. He then started off on foot Morris remarked upon the again, walking or running toward weird way in which the whole Helena. traumatic experience, at least “It was cold, and this could be perceived as a big physical challenge, but it wasn’t for me. I enjoy being outside, but what concerned me was my kids, and other people’s kids, too. That was the most stressful thing.” Andrew Morris, who covered 20 miles in wintry conditions to pick up his four children from school, daycare.

when it was finally over, seemed HELPING HAND to have happened so quickly. He got picked up just before he “I had the kids in bed by 8:30 got into Old Town Helena by a that night,” he said. “It was an man who gave him a ride to the amazing quick shift.” elementary school attended by The whole experience of the his son, Joshua. storm was “insane,” Morris said. Morris and Joshua caught a But Morris also emerged from break at the elementary school. that night with a spirit of appre- “Another dad was there getting ciation. his son, and … he was willing to “We made that journey thanks give us a ride close to our neigh- to some people who helped us borhood,” Morris said. out,” he said, estimating that he There was another concern, only had to cover 7 or 8 miles on though. How could Morris get foot. the youngest girls out of day care “It was cold, and this could be

at Riverside Baptist Church in perceived as a big physical chal- t

Birmingham News | 33 lenge, but it wasn’t for me,” he people in trouble and to see said. “I enjoy being outside, but other people helping them out,” what concerned me was my kids, Morris said. and other people’s kids, too. That He mentioned seeing people was the most stressful thing.” along the way helping pull other It was also “inspiring to see people’s vehicles out of bad

34 | Birmingham News This road is has been impassable since Tuesday. Stranded and wrecked cars littler the 1.5 mile stretch late this morning. One lane is open but travel with extreme caution. (Joe Songer | [email protected]/ al.com

spots, for example. “Everybody ple that he liked. “You could see a was in an incredible predica- sense that, ‘We’re in it together,’” ment, and you wanted to help as Morris said. “To me that is a re- many people as you could along ally good environment and one the way,” he said. you don’t see every day.” He detected a spirit in the peo-

Birmingham News | 35 View off of Chevron at Bass Pro Shops exit near Leeds Wednesday, January 29, 2014. (Tamika Moore | [email protected])

36 | Birmingham News WHY? REASONS FOR THE DISASTER SNOW IN ALABAMA ISN’T NORMAL, BUT IT’S NOT UNUSUAL. SO WHAT CAUSED 2 INCHES OF ICE AND SNOW TO SHUT US DOWN?

By David Magee

t’s not that we can’t manage a little snow, no matter what they Isay. Birmingham survived the blizzard of 1993, after all, when more than a foot fell in the storm of the century. And even though Birmingham averages just less than 1 inch of snow in January, we have seen our share of 1-inch and 2-inch accumulations over the years, and managed those just fine. But this storm was different, as more than one million people impacted know by now. For this magical city, it was a spell of bad luck — a perfect snowstorm, if you will. reasons for THE Birmingham’s snow disaster of 2014: 1. Faulty forecast Upper level disturbances are a weather forecaster’s nightmare because they can slip and slide this way or that while on the move. And even the slightest deviance can make a difference. Forecasters were confident that Jan. 28’s upper level disturbance traveling along the Gulf Coast would yield

Southern snow. Most computer mod- t

Birmingham News | 37 Aerial of the Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Ariport Wednesday, January 29, 2014. (Tamika Moore | tmoore@ al.com)

38 | Birmingham News Birmingham News | 39 els showed precipitation falling the story unfolded from there, south of Birmingham. since many vehicles remained Unfortunately, however, the stuck along roadways for days. disturbance made a very slight jog north. In forecasting models, the 4. Lack of city, movement was minuscule. The county help impact, however, was severe, since As much as we might like to Birmingham was expecting only a blame our city and county services dusting to a half-inch of snow. throughout the metro region for We ended up with 2 inches that inability to help us in a snowstorm, fell in a few hours. reality tells a different story. Since the area averages just less 2. Extreme cold than 2 inches of snowfall per year, Typically when 2 inches of snow according to historical records, lo- falls on Birmingham in the day- cal governments don’t own many time, when people are at work and snowplows, and they don’t spe- children have been dropped off at cialize in road treatment in snow- school, the temperature is hover- storms. ing closer to the freezing mark, 32 So when it starts falling hard degrees. and fast, as it did Jan. 28, city and Thus, roadways are usually more county agencies are overwhelmed slushy than slick. by the roads just as we are. But though the temperature was supposed to reach almost 30 de- 5. Honey, I’m stuck grees on Tuesday, it was just 19 de- If being stuck or stranded wasn’t grees when the snow began to fall enough, we were reminded that just after 9 a.m. And it never got even the smartest of phones aren’t much warmer as the snow piled much good when network capac- up, quickly turning what might ity is pushed beyond limits. have been just a hassle into chaos. When everybody hit the roads Never mind that the average at the same time on Jan. 28, get- high temperature for Birmingham ting collectively stuck, they turned in January is 54 degrees, and the to the most obvious place in their average low is 34. On Jan. 28, most distress — their smartphones. never saw more than 19 or 20 de- But with so many phone calls grees for a high, with lows slipping to spouses, schools and the work- to 9 degrees that night, keeping place happening at the same time, roadways frozen solid. while so much information was being transmitted — remember 3. Simultaneous those snow photos to social media reaction — systems shut down and anxiety Most in the metro area realized levels rose. at about exactly the same time that The result, of course, was an the snow event would amount to event that will leave us adding up more than a dusting, and every- the damage for days, if not weeks, body went into action, beginning to come. at about 10 a.m. History will be indelibly Schools dismissed early. Busi- stamped with the facts: 2 inches of nesses told employees they could snow fell in Birmingham that day leave. And so this metro area of and the city fell into chaos. some 1.2 million people hit the But we know there was far more roads, all at once. We know how to this story than that.

40 | Birmingham News 459 and 280 Wednesday, January 29, 2014. (Tamika Moore | [email protected])

Birmingham News | 41 The sun begins to rise over the Birmingham- Shuttlesworth International Airport, Wednesday, January 29, 2014. (Tamika Moore | [email protected])

42 | Birmingham News Birmingham News | 43 St. Clair County residents in Margaret try to dig out and clear roads near there homes. Road crews are busy dealing with major highways so neighbors use whatever they can to clear roads so stranded vehicles can be moved. (Joe Songer/ [email protected]).

44 | Birmingham News THE WAFFLE HOUSE INDEX HOW BAD WAS THE STORM? bad enough to shut down two birmingham-area waffle houses. and if you ask fema, that’s bad news.

By Madison Underwood | House is closed?” Fugate has [email protected] said, according to the Wall Street Journal. “That’s really bad. That’s ow badly did the sur- where you go to work.” prise winter storm af- Waffle House has 16 restau- Hfect the Birmingham rants in the Birmingham area, area Jan. 28? You can measure it and two of them were not open a in breakfast restaurants. day after the storm. The Federal Emergency Man- For one local mayor, the res- agement Agency has a little- taurant played a vital role in the known informal way to figure recovery: connecting stranded how just how badly and thor- motorists with rescue personnel oughly a disaster has affected a in Fultondale. If you go to an area and Waffle House is serving a full menu — scattered, covered, smothered, and all that — then that area is doing relatively well. A limited menu? The power may be out. But if the Waffle House isn’t open at all? Code red. given area. “The Waffle House, I think in It’s called the Waffle House In- every community, they’ve been dex. great,” Fultondale Mayor Jim FEMA administrator Craig Lowery said. “They continued to Fugate coined the term. If you feed people and helped people go to an area and Waffle House that were stranded. They com- is serving a full menu — scat- municated with us, and if they tered, covered, smothered, and had someone that was stranded all that — then that area is doing they called and we would go and relatively well. A limited menu? get them. The Waffle House did a The power may be out. But if the great job.” Waffle House isn’t open at all? Warner said Waffle House is Code red. flattered by the Waffle House In-

“If you get there and the Waffle dex. t

Birmingham News | 45 Luvenia Simon walks Bella her dog dressed in a pink cover on the campus of The University of Montevallo, Tuesday January 28, 2014. (Frank Couch/fcouch@ al.com)

46 | Birmingham News “It’s a compliment that we are looked upon as always being there for our communities,” Warner wrote. “We’ve always been a 24-hour res- taurant since our founding in 1955. Our founder, Joe Rogers, Sr., says that if you are going to be a service to the community, you need to be there 24-hours. We’ve lived by that phi- losophy ever since. It’s just a part of what we do.” AL.com reporter Sarah McCarty contributed to this report.

An empty container of table salt rests on the US 280 bridge over I-459 as traffic makes its way past, Thursday January 30, 2014. (Frank Couch/ [email protected])

Birmingham News | 47 Grocery in Argo. Brooks Wrecker Service was called to move the vehicles out of the way but vehicles would remain there until owners arrived. There were so many cars that the gasoline truck could not deliver gas. (Joe Songer/ [email protected]).

A line of 18-wheelers is parked on East Lake Blvd near the Birmingham- Shuttlesworth International Airport, Wednesday, January 29, 2014. (Tamika Moore | [email protected])

48 | Birmingham News FREE CHICKEN EAT MORE CHICKEN? one area restAURAteur serves up FREE CHICK-FIL-A SANDWICHES to stranded, starving motorists.

By Jesse Chambers | [email protected] Meadows gave it to some of the drivers whose vehicles were hen the heavy snow in crawling slowly along the crowd- Birmingham slowed ed road. W traffic to a crawl on “It was an opportunity to help,” major roads, the owner of a fast- he said. “Some people were in food location on Highway 280 their cars for 5 or 6 hours.” found a way to help feed — and After going back to the store, bring a little comfort — to some Meadows arranged for a second of the drivers as they struggled to giveaway of the regular Chick-fil- get home. A sandwiches just before dark, at

“It was the most fun I’ve had in a long time,” Mark Meadows, Chick-fil-a manager, on giving away food to stranded travelers

Mark Meadows, owner/opera- about 4 or 5 p.m., to drivers still tor of the Chick-fil-A location at trying to make it home 4620 Highway 280, and his staff “That was the biggest round,” distributed chicken sandwiches he said. “We probably gave away to drivers stuck in traffic. about 300 sandwiches.” And they prepared chicken bis- The effort was certainly worth- cuits the next morning for people while, according to Meadows. who were stranded in the area “Some of these people left their overnight. office at 11 that morning and The food giveaway began al- didn’t have anything to eat,” he most by accident, when Mead- said. “They were hungry.” ows went out to make a delivery And he said he enjoyed having Tuesday about 2 p.m. the chance to help. “I took my delivery out and “It made me feel real good, couldn’t get there,” he said. “It especially with people being so was bumper to bumper for sev- appreciative,” Meadows said. “It eral hours.” was the most fun I’ve had in a But rather than letting the long time.” good, hot food go to waste,

Birmingham News | 49 EMERGENCY SERVICES Hoover makes do with makeshift er with a big assist from a stranded emergency physician, city provides care in a pinch.

By Jon Anderson | [email protected] passable as time went on, Hoover fire Chief Chuck Wingate said. he city of Hoover got an Fortunately, an emergency early taste of what it will physician was stranded on Val- Tbe like to have an emer- leydale Road Tuesday on his way gency room in the city during home to Ross Bridge and ended the height of the winter storm up seeking shelter at the Hoover crunch. Public Safety Center, Wingate As people raced home from said. work and to pick up children Dr. Michael Kurz had just stranded at school the day of the moved his family to the Bir- storm and others experienced mingham area from Virginia at stress and problems associ- the beginning of this month to “We were trying to keep our people from being tied up for hours going to Birmingham,” Hoover fire Chief Chuck Wingate.

ated with being stuck out in the work at UAB Hospital. He was off cold weather in snarled traffic, Tuesday morning and took his Hoover’s emergency medical 18-month-old son to a Gymboree personnel had to deal with a lot class which ended up being can- more calls than normal. celled because of the weather. But there was one big problem. Kurz, still being a little unfamil- With roads iced over and traffic iar with the area, got lost when gridlock on every major roadway his first route home was blocked in the city, Hoover fire medics and he tried to find an alternate couldn’t easily get patients to way. He called the man who re- Brookwood Medical Center or cruited him, Dr. Henry Wang, for the hospitals in Birmingham, and advice on where to go. Dr. Wang, roads to Shelby Baptist Medical a medical director for the Hoover

Center in Alabaster became im- Fire Department, directed him t

50 | Birmingham News The sun makes a reflection on the ice on Highway 31 in Calera, Wednesday January 29, 2014. (Frank Couch/ [email protected]

Birmingham News | 51 An Alabama State Trooper assists men with a disabled vehicle beside I-20 near Leeds, Ala., Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. (Mark Almond/ [email protected])

to the emergency shelter at the equipment in an Alabama De- Hoover Public Safety Center. partment of Public Health trailer Wingate seized the moment that was designed for emergen- and put Dr. Kurz to work about 8 cies, Wingate said. Dr. Kurz was p.m. to help solve the transporta- kind enough to lend a hand, and tion dilemma. “It just worked for us,” he said. “We were trying to keep our One of Hoover’s paramedics people from being tied up for is a nurse, and two additional hours going to Birmingham,” people who were staying at the Wingate said. Green Valley Baptist shelter were The Hoover Fire Department also nurses, Wingate said. set Dr. Kurz up in a makeshift “They all pitched in.” emergency room at a gym at Eighteen patients who needed Green Valley Baptist Church off emergency care were brought to Patton Chapel Road, a central Green Valley for treatment, and location in the city on a well-trav- three were serious enough to eled path with easy access. merit sending on to the hospital The city also had medical for more involved care, Wingate

52 | Birmingham News said. evated levels of carbon monoxide Dr. Kurz faced people with panic from sitting inside parked cars with attacks related to the cold, frac- the engine running, Wingate said. tures and serious head trauma The few patients who did need from falls on the ice, diabetic is- further care at a hospital were sta- sues and a pregnant woman with bilized and monitored until the belly pain. morning, when the roads became “I didn’t know how prevalent safer for travel, Dr. Kurz said. that disease is,” Wingate said, refer- The doctor worked from about ring to diabetes. People stranded in 8 p.m. Tuesday til about noon the their cars for long periods of time next day, Wingate said. And the without anything to eat had their nursery workers at the church blood sugar affected, he said. They loved taking care of his 18-month- would get light-headed and unable old son, he said. to talk on the phone, so even locat- “I was just fortunate to be in the ing them sometimes was a prob- right place at the right time to be lem, he said. able to offer my skills,” Dr. Kurtz Other people suffered from el- said.

Birmingham News | 53 A deer crosses a snow-covered road in Springville, Ala., Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014. (Mark Almond/ [email protected])

54 | Birmingham News Birmingham News | 55 Snow and ice cover a part of Shelby County 280 commonly referred to as The Narrows. on Thursday, January 30, 2014. (Frank Couch/ [email protected])

56 | Birmingham News STRANDED ART SCHOOL SLEEP OVER movies, food and games: stranded students and teachers make the most of unfortunate situation.

By Jon Reed| [email protected] kept them from going home safely. asmine Martin tried, but Martin said it certainly wasn’t couldn’t get home from boring. Jschool the day of the storm. “Spending the last few days She got about three blocks from with all these talented kids, hard- the Alabama School of Fine Arts working teachers and amazing in downtown Birmingham — it administration has been one of took her an hour — before her the best things!” she wrote. They played hide-and-seek around the school in their socks, they watched the movie “Pitch Perfect” and they walked across the street to Alabama Power’s headquarters for a hot meal with stranded employees. mother told her just to go back to They played hide-and-seek school. around the school in their socks, “When I came back everyone they watched the movie “Pitch was smiling, no one was sad, or Perfect” and they walked across upset or caught up on the outside the street to Alabama Power’s confusion,” she wrote in an email headquarters for a hot meal with to AL.com. “One might say this stranded employees. is the worst time ever but I think That night, they slept two-to-six differently.” to a room in the school’s dorms. Martin and about 100 others — “By the end of the night we about 80 students plus parents, were all tired,” she said. She went teachers and others who needed to bed around 10:30 p.m. a place to stay — would spend Breakfast was pancakes, eggs, the night at ASFA. They weren’t sausage and cereal, and it was the only ones spending Tuesday followed by playing in the snow night at school, as more than and a “never-ending game of Mo- 11,000 teachers and students nopoly.” across the state camped out “The last couple of days have when bad weather and icy roads been an adventure,” she said.

Birmingham News | 57 JAMES SPANN owning up to his mistake when birmingham meteorologist james spann found himself the focus of storm-related ire, he was more than ready to take responsibility.

Bob Carlton | [email protected] like yesterday, so I have been down this road before. The main irmingham meteorolo- difference is that I was a young gist James Spann, who man of 26 years old in 1982. With Bwas called just about the experience and maturity that every name in the book as an un- should come with a long tenure expected snowstorm shut down in my position, you would think most of central Alabama, apolo- that kind of error would not hap- gized for what he called his worst pen again, but, it did.” “Football coaches don’t win every game, and we don’t get every forecast right. But, when you lose, you do deep study into what went wrong, and work to be sure it doesn’t happen again.” Meteorologist James Spann

“forecast bust” since the winter On Jan. 28, as the predicted storm of 1982. “dusting” turned into a signifi- Here’s what Spann wrote on his cant storm that left thousands of ABC 33/40 weather blog: motorists stranded across central “In terms of human impact, Alabama, Spann, in particular, yesterday’s forecast ‘bust’ was the took a beating on social media. most significant for me since Jan- In his weather blog post, Spann uary 1982, when we had a timing said he felt somewhat like Ala- error of about six hours on the bama football player Cade Foster, arrival of freezing rain and snow. who received death threats on Instead of starting at 5 p.m. ... it Twitter after he missed three field started around 11 a.m. People goals in the Crimson Tide’s loss were caught off guard; schools to Auburn. and businesses closed, and the “Yep, over the last 12 hours lots result was traffic gridlock, aban- of social media vitriol has been doned cars, separated families directed at me, and it is deserved.

and human suffering. Very much People who are tired, hungry, t

58 | Birmingham News I-20 near Leeds Wednesday, January 29, 2014. A winter storm dumped snow in central and southern Alabama yesterday. (Tamika Moore | tmoore@ al.com)

Birmingham News | 59 in strange places trying to sleep and (no) telling how many have away from their families and chil- had to leave their cars stranded dren, need to vent. Do NOT vent and knock on strangers doors for at school officials or your boss. shelter while others have paid the They make decisions on weather ultimate price trying to drive? How forecasts, and what they got was can you be so wrong? Has every- bad information. I am the one to thing with your career over the blame. I guess I know how Cade past years gone to your head? You Foster feels (the University of Ala- are still expected to be vigilant and bama place kicker who took heat not complacent. What a shame as after the Auburn game).” I think of the people still out there and the ones who are dead.” exampleS of emails Spann said he wouldn’t share that Spann received the person’s name who wrote it, “Looks like you got it wrong but it was signed. He said the criti- yesterday with your prediction cism was valid, and one that he of a light dusting and no accu- said he will take to heart. “I appre- mulation. How can you guys be ciate her taking the time to write, so badly off as hundreds still sit and I mean that,” he said. in their schools and hundreds “Days like (Jan. 28), unfortu- remain in their cars on highways nately, are part of my job. There

60 | Birmingham News Dwight Campbell of Atlanta prepares to tow a disabled vehicle from I-20 near Leeds, Ala., Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. (Mark Almond/ [email protected]

have been bad forecasts in the Humility is missing in our sci- past, and there will be bad ones in ence. There are many things we the future. Football coaches don’t don’t know, and many things we win every game, and we don’t get can’t do. Just about the time you every forecast right. But, when you think you are infallible, you will lose, you do deep study into what be brought to your knees. For the went wrong, and work to be sure it ones in meteorology and climate doesn’t happen again. … My many that say ‘I could be wrong,’ I will years in this chair have given me listen and respect their opinion. a pretty thick skin, so the social But, for those that claim no error, media hate doesn’t bother me; the we all know their time is coming. human suffering is what bothers “So, an apology from me for a me. I take my job seriously, and botched forecast. Won’t be the last I will carry on. If I just decide to bad forecast I write, but I will keep quit, then the next person who working to get better and stronger comes in behind me will have the daily. same problems. The occasional “And, no, this kind of thing missed forecast that leads to a sen- doesn’t ‘get me down.’ It energizes tinel event. me. Thanks for your support and “I have said this to both profes- for those that did write an encour- sional meteorology societies in aging note. … Let’s warm up ... and speeches over the last two years. enjoy some low 60s this weekend.”

Birmingham News | 61 American flags at the headstones of soldiers at the Alabama National Veterans Cemetery. (Frank Couch/ [email protected])

62 | Birmingham News Birmingham News | 63 Footprints in the snow in Springville, Ala., Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014. (Mark Almond/ [email protected])

64 | Birmingham News CHURCHES SAFE HAVENS birmingham area churches provided sanctuary to those in need of a place to rest their weary heads.

By Greg Garrison| [email protected] ville Middle School students and 25 IB students. s they sat down to a “We had from tiny babies up lunch of chicken nuggets to senior citizens,” Pate said. “It’s Aand mashed potatoes at great to see people come togeth- the First Baptist Church of Truss- er and help people they didn’t ville, Nichele Johnson asked her know.” fellow storm-stranded students The situation played out all to bow their heads in prayer. around Birmingham and other Some of the students from cities in a variety of shelters, the Jefferson County Interna- many of them churches. First tional Baccalaureate School and Baptist Church of Birmingham Hewitt-Trussville Middle School on Lakeshore Drive fed and barely knew each other or had housed 300 people, staff said. never met. In Trussville, the stranded At the church, the stranded were greeted by volunteers bringing blankets, pillows, air mattresses, food and other supplies. “Most of us didn’t even talk seemed at peace with their situ- to each other,” said Johnson, 16, ation. a junior at the IB. “Now we just Most of the students said they slept together, woke up together may have to stay at the church and brushed our teeth together.” again tonight, but they weren’t The boys said they slept com- worried. fortably on cushioned church “This place is good; we love this pews and had plenty of blankets place,” said Joshua Quarshie, 15, and pillows. The girls slept in a sophomore at the IB School. Sunday school rooms. “I think I’m going to be fine,” Trussville First Baptist Execu- said Matthew Grubbs, 12, a tive Pastor Lance Pate said about sixth-grader at Trussville Middle 200 people spent the night of the School. He said his parents were storm and the next morning at stranded at his grandparents’

the church, including 25 Truss- house. t

Birmingham News | 65 Trucks, bus and cars were left stranded Birmingham area on Thursday January 30, 2014. (Frank Couch/ [email protected])

66 | Birmingham News The students ate taco salad for supper Tuesday night with adults such as Emery and Trudy Mayoris of Odenville, who got stranded in Trussville on the way home from Homewood. “We tried every which way to get home and couldn’t do it,” Emery said. “We’ve never stayed in a shelter before,” Trudy said. “It’s going to make us a little more sensitive when people are in need.” They left their car on Roper Road and were helped by a couple riding an all-terrain vehicle, giving people rides to shelter at First Baptist. “They were like angels,” Trudy said. At the church, the stranded were greeted by volunteers bringing blankets, pillows, air mattresses, food and other supplies. “It’s like they had an army of volunteers,” Emery said. He and his wife slept on air mattresses. “This is our bed right here,” he said, sitting in the church lobby chairs next to the air mattresses. “We are probably going to be guests another night.” One of their neighbors from Oden- ville, Carolyn Paulsen, was trying to get home from downtown Bir- mingham and also ended up in the church. “I saw a lot of generous and giving people,” Paulsen said. “People are just wonderful. It crossed all cul- tural lines.” Trudy Mayoris said the journey was harrowing, but in the end, re- vealing. Being in a desperate situation, and treated with kindness, can be transformational, she said. “I think it’s good for us to go through this once to really learn to be more compassionate to people,” she said.

Birmingham News | 67 A heavy blanket of snow coated central Alabama overnight. These are photos form the Springville area. (Joe Songer/ [email protected])

68 | Birmingham News ONE MORE TIME PREPARED FOR THE WORST the second snow storm in three weeks found a city — and a people — ready for anything it threw at them.

Madison Underwood | [email protected]

or the second time in less than a month, the greater Birmingham Farea was blanketed in white. The storm brought 3 inches of snow to the city, according to the National Weather Service, although others re- ported as much as 5 inches in some ar- eas north and east of Birmingham. That compares to the 2 inches of snow and ice that crippled Birmingham’s roadways during the Jan. 28 storm. This time there was some warning — Bob Ammons, Jefferson County Emer- gency Management Agency officer, cau- tioned early Wednesday that freezing rain and snowfall could create problems throughout Birmingham and advised the public to head home before 2 p.m. This is in stark contrast to the storm on Jan. 28 that left hundreds of people stranded on highways and abandoned cars on roadways. Children were forced to stay overnight in schools and pro- fessionals were stranded in offices throughout Birmingham making makeshift beds out of coats.

Birmingham News | 69 A winter storm that closed schools and businesses across central Alabama began to dump snow and freezing rain across the area after dark on Wednesday February 12, 2014 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Frank Couch/fcouch@ al.com)

70 | Birmingham News A parking meter shown two hours and 17 minutes apart after the snow started in downtown Birmingham, began to dump snow and freezing rain across the area after dark Wednesday February 12, 2014 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Frank Couch/fcouch@ al.com)

Traveling became difficult after dark Wednesday February 12, 2014 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Frank Couch/fcouch@ al.com)

Birmingham News | 71 EPILOGUE

In challenging times, good people rise to the occasion. Railroad Park in downtown And so it was in Alabama’s Snowpocalypse. Yes, the Birmingham after the snow area was whited out by the unexpected storm. stopped falling on Wednesday But it was quickly warmed by an Alabama spirit of February the 12th 2014. neighbors helping neighbors. By the time the snow (Frank Couch/ [email protected]) melted, we weren’t talking about faulty forecasts or abandoned cars. We were talking about how the community survived it all – together.

72 | Birmingham News