The east side of the state may have been spared the brunt of the storm but in Grand Rapids the nearly 16 inches of snow in a 24-hour period could prove record setting
Chad Doty shovels a foot of snow off the sidewalk of a Big Boy in downtown Grand Rapids. It’s normally packed during lunch but today it’s closed. He’s been out shoveling for hours.
“We tried to get out at like 1 o’clock (in the morning) but the weather was just too bad I couldn’t see the drive. So I had to pack it up, got back out at about 4 o’clock I think and just started the grind.”
Doty says he’ll work until early evening, take a nap, and head back out. He says the extra snow means extra cash for him.
The busses are running, even though all universities, many schools and businesses are closed today.
Mayor George Heartwell refused to declare a snow emergency. City workers are working around the clock to clear the streets. He says all of them should be clear by Friday. Heartwell is asking those physically able to do so help clear snow away from fire hydrants, and keep cars off the streets if possible.
City leaders say they expect around 16 inches total. That’s nearly equal to the record set more than 20 year ago.
Hal and Judy Fruit trek down a normally busy street in snow shoes they got for Christmas.
“It’s a good storm but I think they overblew it a little bit. It’s Michigan. It’s snow. It’s winter. No big deal. You know you live with it. Roads are clear. The sun is out. It’s beautiful!”
Just under 400 people in Kent County were without power, but are expected to be back online before the end of the day.
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