Commerce area residents awakened to a five-inch blanket of snow at 27 degrees Monday morning.
The storm met the predictions of the National Weather Service, virtually shutting down business and nonessential government services. All area schools are closed.
As of 7 a.m., road conditions are treacherous. While Commerce, Jackson County and Georgia Department of Transportation crews have been busy plowing highways and streets and most thoroughfares are passable, roads are slick. Motorists are advised to stay home if at all possible.
That being said, not all business is shut down. Hardee’s, CVS and Walgreens were all open by 8 a.m. in Commerce.
So were both Quality Foods and Ingles.
“I don’t know how long we’ll be open,” said Josh Allen, produce manager at Ingles, at about 8 a.m. as sleet began to fall.
Shoppers cleaned out the bread, milk, bananas and ground beef during the pre-storm buying spree Saturday and Sunday, he said. He recommended anyone planning to make a trip to Ingles call (706-335-7689) to confirm that the store is still open.
Quality Foods office manager Betty Miller said Quality Foods will likely be open until dark Monday.
Since it closes on Sundays, Quality Foods did not experience as big a pre-storm rush, but Miller said shoppers hit the soup isle particularly hard.
“Everyone made soup or chili,” she laughed.
Other items in great demand were bread, milk, bananas and ground beef, but the store ordered extra supplies and remains well stocked, she said.
“We’re going to be open as long as weather permits,” she promised.
If you’ve got to get out, get out early before the sleet builds up, advises Rick Lewis, Commerce’s public works manager.
As of 8:15, city streets “aren’t too bad,” Lewis observed.
“They’re passable if you take your time and are smart about it,” he said. “We’ve cleared Hospital Road, State Street, Scott Street, Waterworks Road and Broad and Elm streets. We’ve got two backhoes, one front-end loader and a spreader truck out there.”
Crews worked through Sunday night.
By 8:15 Monday morning, sleet was already falling. That, said Lewis, will change the situation as the storm progresses
“Once the ice gets on top (of the snow), it’ll be a different story,” Lewis warned. “If this afternoon you don’t need to get out, don’t get out. It’s going to be treacherous.”
