Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has finally addressed the ongoing humanitarian crisis on I-95 in northern Virginia where thousands of motorists are stranded, many overnight, after Monday’s snowstorm:
My team has been working throughout the night alongside @VSPPIO, @VaDOT, and @VDEM to respond to the situation on I-95.
State and local emergency personnel are continuing to clear downed trees, assist disabled vehicles, and re-route drivers.
— Governor Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) January 4, 2022
If his team was working throughout the night, why is this the first tweet we’re seeing from him?
An emergency message is going to all stranded drivers connecting them to support, and the state is working with localities to open warming shelters as needed.
While sunlight is expected to help @VaDOT clear the road, all Virginians should continue to avoid 1-95.
— Governor Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) January 4, 2022
We really would love to hear what he was dong over the past day:
After 20+ hours for some stranded Virginia drivers… @GovernorVA has finally publicly addressed this dire situation for thousands of people stuck on I-95 in freezing temperatures https://t.co/ewFl8AG3S4
— Liz Cooper (@LizCooperABC15) January 4, 2022
At least he’s gone in a few days:
At least in a couple of weeks nobody will ever have to think about old Coonman ever again. https://t.co/ErmDxqQtTK
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) January 4, 2022
As for the situation this morning, it’s still a crisis:
This is roughly 90 miles of slow or no movement on i95! Some people in their cars now for over 8 hours. pic.twitter.com/yHm9JznLy3
— Jim Cantore (@JimCantore) January 4, 2022
But, at least, some rescue crews are out on the road:
I haven’t seen @VaDOT but a fire and rescue team is walking the highway now pic.twitter.com/BsTPwLYyFS
— Jennifer Travis (@jentravis79) January 4, 2022
The question is why wasn’t Virginia more prepared for this?
There was also a big disaster of stuck cars on Pennsylvania Turnpike during 2016 Blizzard. After that, Pa made major changes to how it deals with this sort of thing, including opening more access points to get people off in an emergency. Shocking Virginia seems so unprepared. https://t.co/z29GqBt0k9
— Tim Craig (@timcraigpost) January 4, 2022
And we do wonder if people just didn’t listen to the warning that were issued:
Yup. People are going to blame VADot and take none of the responsibility of driving into a major snowstorm when officials were begging them to stay off the roads. And then blame the meteorologists for not giving enough warnings, etc. I feel for people stuck there, but…
— Stephanie Sigafoos (@ssigafoos) January 4, 2022
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