Outgoing Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam blames motorists for getting stranded on I-95, because that's what leadership looks like

In case you missed it, soon-to-be-ex-Virginia-Governor Ralph Northam finally announced that his team was tackling the ongoing crisis faced by countless motorists stranding on I-95 following a severe 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

Really staying on top of your state, Ralph! At least Virginians can take comfort in knowing that although your term is drawing to a close, you still care as much about them as ever.

Which is to say you don’t even give half a damn:

Ralph Northam blames the drivers for getting on I-95, no apologies for obvious government failure.

“We gave warnings, and people need to pay attention to these warnings, and the less people that are on the highways when these storms hit, the better.” https://t.co/3vUfTsPCKV

— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) January 5, 2022

Wonder how the people who were trapped would respond to that. We’re guessing many of them would be where Ronni Schorr is at, if not even more furious:

But some motorists said they aren’t to blame for what they saw as government officials’ poor planning.

Ronni Schorr said Virginia officials were “not at all” prepared, and she didn’t see plows until Tuesday morning. She said her vehicle finally exited the highway after 14 hours, weaving around others stuck in the median, after a plow cleared an exit ramp on the other side of the highway. A tractor-trailer blocked the nearest exit ramp, she said.

“I’m not angry at the snow,” Schorr said. “I’m just upset at the way they handled it.”

Most frustrating, she said, was the lack of communication from state and local officials as she and her husband took turns catnapping overnight in their Mazda. Finally, on Tuesday morning, they received a push alert on their phones from Virginia.