Hotels fill up after storm strands motorists

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by Dara Newson

Story Created: Dec 20, 2012 at 6:53 PM CDT

Story Updated: Dec 20, 2012 at 7:33 PM CDT

One benefit from the snowstorm is packed hotels and motels. Those stranded at motels... are in good spirits, despite the circumstances. And they're even more so because they made the decision to get off the roads.

The Motel 6 in Grand Island right off Highway 281 was completely sold out. Some drivers were able to head out this morning, a few were just waiting for I-80 to reopen.

The aftermath of Wednesdays storm left cars stranded, covered in snow and for some stuck at the Motel 6 in Grand Island.

"The visibility was less than a quarter of a mile and I turned around and decided that it was best to get off the road at that point because I knew the further west we went the worse it was going to get," said PJ Kelly.

PJ Kelly and her mom Mary Kelly are headed to Casper, Wyoming from Arkansas.

"It's like ground hogs day, where the day repeats itself so hopefully this is the last repeat," said Mary Kelly.

The Kelly's avoided a car collision but others weren't so fortunate.

Cars off the side of the road this like were all too common on a portion of Highway 281, Highway 6 and I-80. The Nebraska Highway State Patrol says they dealt with countless calls of car crashes, slide offs and motor assistance issues

"Interstate collisions probably 20 to 30 collisions and probably 50 to 60 slide offs, motor assist that kind of thing those are just estimates because quite frankly we didn't have time to keep track," said Captain Chris Kolb.

Back in Adams County the Sheriff's Department reported few accidents but numerous abandoned vehicles trapped in snow drifts. Captain Kolb says it all boils down to playing it safe.

"The blizzard came as expected so it was disappointing that so many chose to go out," said Kolb.

Homes were also affected by the storm. Hasting Utilities reports several hundred homes loss power in Hastings, Juniata and surrounding areas.

Grand Island reported 1500 homes without power for almost 45 minutes. All power related to the storm has been restored.

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