Kindness takes over during snowstorm commute from Hell

<p>Strangers were helping strangers during a major snowstorm in New Jersey that nearly crippled the state.</p>

News 12 Staff

Nov 16, 2018, 11:31 PM

Updated 1,996 days ago

Share:

Strangers were helping strangers during a major snowstorm in New Jersey that nearly crippled the state.
Thousands of New Jersey residents say that it took them hours to get home from work. Many of them were trying to get to their children, who were also stranded due to the storm.
Catlin Ramos tells News 12 New Jersey that she was desperately trying to get to her 1-year-old son after she was told his day care would be closing early. She says that she and her husband both left their jobs in Newark early to travel 10 miles away to the day care center in Roseland.
But due to the intense traffic, the short trip took hours.
“By like hour 9, you’re just like, ‘When is this going to end?’” Ramos says.
Ramos says that after several hours her husband ditched his car and walked a mile to where she was stuck. All the while, their son was at the day care center. They finally reached their son at 1 a.m. Friday.
“When we arrived, he was in someone’s arms asleep,” Ramos says.
There were about 40 to 50 other children still at the Learning Experience day care center as well.
“Without a complaint, everybody kind of just picked up the pieces and worked to make sure the kids are happy and fed and entertained,” said Patty Dombrowski with The Learning Experience.
This is not the only example of children being taken care of while their parents desperately tried to get to them.
Teachers in West Orange cooked food at the school for students who were stranded in the snow. The students and teachers then camped out at the school while the storm cleared.
Ramos says that the storm may have brought some people closer together. She say that the kindness and generosity she witnessed outweighed the bad experience.
"There were times where we all just kind of leaned on each other. People were getting out of their cars and having conversations, and meeting people and just kind of exchanging things,” Ramos says. “I thought it was just really nice to see everyone get together when we needed each other."
Thursday’s storm dropped at least 9 inches of snow on parts of the state. State officials say that a series of traffic accidents delayed snowplow crews from cleaning the roadways.


More from News 12
0:38
Teen accused of driving stolen car while high, causing fatal crash in Centereach

Teen accused of driving stolen car while high, causing fatal crash in Centereach

2:09
Steady rain, chilly Sunday on Long Island; warmer start to workweek

Steady rain, chilly Sunday on Long Island; warmer start to workweek

0:27
Nassau police: 6 injured in shooting at Westbury home

Nassau police: 6 injured in shooting at Westbury home

0:21
State police: 32-year-old man killed in Wantagh Parkway crash

State police: 32-year-old man killed in Wantagh Parkway crash

0:45
Fire breaks out at Plainview storage facility

Fire breaks out at Plainview storage facility

1:50
‘No one is helping.’ Freeport tenants say complaints about fire alarm are falling on deaf ears

‘No one is helping.’ Freeport tenants say complaints about fire alarm are falling on deaf ears

0:46
Teachers participate at 15th annual 'GC for a Cure' 5K Run and Walk in memory of late educator

Teachers participate at 15th annual 'GC for a Cure' 5K Run and Walk in memory of late educator

0:53
Prosecutors: Queens man stole used cooking oil from 16 restaurants

Prosecutors: Queens man stole used cooking oil from 16 restaurants

0:28
Sag Harbor teen charged with DWI following crash into tree

Sag Harbor teen charged with DWI following crash into tree

2:15
Meeting held over next steps for cleanup at Bethpage Community Park

Meeting held over next steps for cleanup at Bethpage Community Park

1:32
Knowing the early warning signs during Stroke Awareness Month

Knowing the early warning signs during Stroke Awareness Month

0:38
Sam Ash Music announces closure of all store locations

Sam Ash Music announces closure of all store locations

1:39
Runners are lacing up for the Long Island Marathon Sunday. Click here to see which roads will close to traffic

Runners are lacing up for the Long Island Marathon Sunday. Click here to see which roads will close to traffic

1:58
Kids get up-close-and personal tour of Suffolk police headquarters during Police Week

Kids get up-close-and personal tour of Suffolk police headquarters during Police Week

2:15
EXCLUSIVE: Gov. Hochul talks retail theft, bail reform during visit to Lindenhurst

EXCLUSIVE: Gov. Hochul talks retail theft, bail reform during visit to Lindenhurst

1:56
JAC Shack gives BOCES students chance to work at restaurant

JAC Shack gives BOCES students chance to work at restaurant

2:39
Deer Park man heads to Washington DC to raise awareness about Alzheimer's disease

Deer Park man heads to Washington DC to raise awareness about Alzheimer's disease

0:20
Police: 13-year-old robbed at knifepoint on soccer field of Turtle Hook Middle School

Police: 13-year-old robbed at knifepoint on soccer field of Turtle Hook Middle School

0:25
Garbage truck driver indicted for 2023 fatal crash in Hauppauge

Garbage truck driver indicted for 2023 fatal crash in Hauppauge

10 organizations to donate to in support of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities

10 organizations to donate to in support of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities