CHATTANOOGA TIMES REGION ROUNDUP THAT APPEARED IN THE MARCH 16, 1993, EDITION

In the wake of the blizzard that struck on a Friday night, staff at the Chattanooga Times checked on the situation in counties across the tri-state region as people started to dig their way out.

› POLK: Rescue workers were still trying on March 15 to reach communities not heard from since the storm began. Tracked vehicles were used by Tennessee National Guard to reach areas like Reliance and Greasy Creek.

› BRADLEY: Cleveland officials lifted half of two-part emergency order, which had been for all industries to close and for people to keep non-emergency vehicles off the streets. On March 15, officials lifted the vehicle ban. About 1,500 Bradley County residents stayed in shelters over the blizzard-blasted weekend.

› GRUNDY: Officials reported that most calls on Monday were for pulling vehicles from the snow. Almost all residents had electrical power and most businesses were able to reopen.

› MCMINN: Most of the major state routes in the county were reopened Monday, but travel in some areas still difficult. About 100 people used local shelters Monday night. Three fatalities had been attributed to the storm.

› MEIGS: Although most residential customers had their power back by Monday, 400 homes were still in the dark. Main state routes in Meigs were deemed passable but some back roads were still blocked by downed trees.

› COFFEE: Sheriff’s deputies were busy Monday transporting everything from water to baby formula. Authorities stationed 24 four-wheel-drive vehicles around the county to help with supplies.

› RHEA: About 90 percent of power and water was restored by Monday and all main roads were reported clear. Mountain roads, however, remained treacherous and the National Guard was still rendering aid and delivering supplies in some areas on Dayton Mountain.

› MARION: Elder Mountain and portions of Guild in the Haletown area remained without power Monday, but power was restored to most residents in the rest of the county. Mountain roads were in the worst condition.

› BLEDSOE: Main and secondary roads were passable by Monday and most homes had power restored. Schools remained closed.

› SEQUATCHIE: Most main roads were reported clear and 95 percent of homes that lost power had been restored. However, travel was still dangerous on Mowbray Mountain and around Lewis Chapel Mountain. Schools remained closed.

› WALKER: Businesses began reopening across much of the county on Monday and crews cleared U.S. Highway 27 in Rossville and Fort Oglethorpe. ›

DADE: In the Head River area near Lookout Mountain, 6- to 8-foot snowdrifts were the aim of efforts to open up access to homes and allow more travel Monday. There were still many residents who had no power. Some were still boiling snow for drinking water.

› CATOOSA: Three out of four households had power again and most stranded motorists who sought shelter there during the storm were able to get back on the road. Most secondary roads were still treacherous.

› WHITFIELD: A county dispatcher had three words to sum up the situation: “Bad, bad, bad.” Power to many was still out and many county roads were still impassable. Officials warned people not to try to travel until Wednesday.

› MURRAY: Power was restored to most homes but water outages were still widespread. Crews continued on Monday to clear main roads while most secondary roads remained impassable even for off-road vehicles.

› DEKALB: Officials reported the entire county was still gridlocked by snow and 4- to 5-foot-high snowdrifts. Only I-59, Highway 40 and Highway 35 were open to traffic. Most power had been restored but water supplies remained short.

› JACKSON: All roads in the county remained closed on Monday except for Highways 35, 40 and 72. In Scottsboro, roads were open and passable. Some areas were expected to be without power until Wednesday.