Snow storm slows area residents

Dr. Alf Adler said he’s always amazed at everyone’s immediate reaction when snow threatens the area.

The other night, during the height of the televised, meteorological prognostications that preceded the recent snow storm, Adler said he had to go out for pet supplies and got to the store just in time.

“I was getting cat litter because I have two cats. I was there legitimately,” Adler, an obstetrician, said.

He said he had to move quickly to lay claim to a single bag of litter because people were buying the stuff at an alarming rate to use for traction in case they got their cars stuck in the snow.

“You’d think we were going to be covered in snow for a week or two … incapable of moving,” he said.

On the other hand, Adler, 48, said he ultimately profits from snow days.

“July, August and September are my busiest months because of days like this,” he smiled and said Thursday as he sat in a local tobacco store and puffed on a cigar.

Jennifer Tiberii said she doesn’t worry too much about supplies when snow is on the way.

She said she feels comfortable that the stores will be open and well-stocked and that she will be able to get to them or live off of what’s in her cupboards until the roads are passable again.

“They’ve been talking about this storm for over a week and I always have milk and eggs in my refrigerator,” Tiberii, 27, said.

Wayne Vickers and Wayne Darrington, who both work at a local car rental shop, said they too see delayed reactions after snow storms hit the area, but their business increases sooner than Adler’s does.

“We’ll be busy next week because people will get into accidents and have to take their cars to the shop,” Vickers said.

Darrington said he thinks there may be ulterior motives in people’s reactions to snow storms.

“I think they probably have other little agendas,” he said.

Vickers said he thought about playing hooky, too.

“It crossed my mind. Who wants to get in a car and drive in this stuff?” he asked

“I think we’re all looking for a reason to go home early and it’s not because we think we can’t get home safely,” Vickers said.

Still, driving in the snow can be treacherous, said Jeru Bashir, a professional driver who works with Darrington and Vickers .

Bashir was on the road all day Thursday and said caution should be everyone’s byword.

“The average person in our area is not from around here,” Bashir said of those who have different ideas about how to drive in the snow.

“Slow down,” Bashir advised, “Give a little more room between yourself and that person who might be driving a little more erratically.”

Since road safety might still be in question, Prince William County schools will be closed today. After-school and evening activities will be canceled. Under Code Green, which will be in affect, all employees will report to work. There was no information available for Manassas and Manassas Park schools by print deadline. Both school divisions will make announcements on local radio and television stations by 6 a.m. today. Manassas schools will have information available on the division’s Web site at http://www.manassas.k12.va.us by 6:30 a.m.