OHIO (WJW) -- On Monday, lake effect snow continued to pound Northeast Ohio’s snow belt, showing no signs of letting up.
In Painesville, travel was restricted to essential vehicles as heavy snowfall blanketed the area. Over in Mentor, the “snow machine” unleashed several feet of snow, with even more forecasted.
“It’s about bunkering down, layering up, and hoping for the best, really,” said Mentor resident Clara Adams.
For her, digging out has become a full-time job.
“It takes a good two hours at least,” she explained. “Anywhere around this neighborhood will take you two hours to dig out.”
Even for seasoned locals, the sheer volume of snow is staggering.
“If you’re not used to being here, it’s a slap in the face. Even for us, it’s still a slap in the face,” Adams added.
As the day progressed, main roads in Mentor and Painesville showed improvement, but residential streets remained treacherous. Many residents spent the day shoveling driveways, tackling piles of snow that only seemed to grow.
Snowplow drivers, like 10-year veteran George Berlingeri, have been working tirelessly to keep roads passable.
“I’ve never seen it this bad in my entire career,” Berlingeri said. “We were up at 4 a.m., and we won’t finish until midnight, only to start again at 4 a.m.”
Despite the challenges, the storm has fostered a strong sense of community. Mentor resident David Schick described how neighbors are coming together to help one another dig out.
“That’s what this weather does—it just brings the community together. But it is so much snow," he said.
As the storm rages on, the spirit of collaboration prevails. Neighbors continue to lend a hand, snowplow drivers keep their rigs moving, and residents brace for more accumulation.
“We’re in our own little bubble,” Schick said. “The snow keeps coming down, and it’s been doing that for a day and a half.”
For now, the people of Northeast Ohio remain resilient, shoveling, helping, and hoping for the best as the snow refuses to relent.
