KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar BluffIce Storm Strands Many Unable to get to Shelters

Ice Storm Strands Many Unable to get to Shelters

Ice Storm Strands Many Unable to get to Shelters
By: CJ Cassidy

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The ice storm may have cast a chill over many of us, but it seems to have brought out the warmth in others.

I caught up with volunteers and the people they were helping out, and they all say if nothing else, this storm's forced them to reach out to their neighbors.

The storm left Nathan Cromwell and his family holed up in their home without power and without a car.  Cromwell worried his family would suffer.

"Cape County won't provide transportation free, and my daughter's premature and she gets really cold," he said.

Emergency workers say Cromwell was one of dozens who couldn't make it out to warming centers and shelters.

At Jackson's Immaculate Conception, Red Cross worker Sherrie Brethold says even volunteers had problems getting out.

"Transportation is a big issue right now.  We have lots of volunteers in several communities, but a lot of them can't get out of their homes and are completely iced in, or it's or too dangerous for them to get out," she said.

Still, once they did make it in, most folks warmed up and cheered up.

"I've run into several people here I know.  You get acquainted fast in a place like this," Virginia Bohnsack said as we spoke with her at Immaculate Conception.

Back out at Nathan Cromwell's home, relief finally came in the form of his landlord ready to take this freezing family off to a warm, safe place.

"I'm really grateful.  Thank God they're here for us," he said of his landlord.

We heard many stories like that today; people just pitching in to help their friends and neighbors and in some cases even strangers.

As for those volunteers, their work doesn't stop, but will continue Tuesday night at shelters that stay open to take people in out of the cold.