MONROE - Wednesday was a day of firsts for Jane Thoman, co-owner/manager of Super 8 and AmericInn motels in Monroe.
A powerful snowstorm which started Tuesday night dumped up to 18 inches of snow on Monroe, wind blew snow into drifts as high as 6 feet and Thoman's motels were at full capacity.
"I don't ever remember seeing this much snow with the wind," said Thoman, 48, a lifelong Monroe resident.
Thoman said the motels are usually 50 percent full this time of year. She said both motels were full as of 1 p.m. Wednesday. "I was surprised because we usually don't see a rush until near the end of the day."
Thoman said she was allowing people to stay in the motels' lobbies with nothing more than a blanket and a pillow. Super 8 can accommodate 10 people, while 10-15 could fit in AmericInn's lobby and another 10 in the motel's meeting room.
Super 8 supervisor Salena Allen said at least 40 people had come in since she arrived at 6 a.m. looking for a room. Those who arrived early enough got rooms. Allen said she had turned away 15 people in the hour after the motel reached capacity.
"Everybody who has a room has been pretty upbeat," Allen said. "Those who don't are a little stressed out."
Thoman said the only motel staff who made it to work other than Allen was housekeeping. Everyone else was on call.
"We're asking people if we can just give them towels and cleaning may not get done right away," Thoman said. "They understand we're short-staffed, and we end up cleaning. Everyone chips in."
The Gasthaus Motel's 24 rooms were full as of noon Wednesday. Monroe Clinic reserved many of those rooms before Wednesday's rush, to allow staff a place to shower, sleep and get back to work.
"My husband is shuttling people back and forth in his truck," Gasthaus owner Teresa Gobeli said. "I work at Monroe Clinic, too, so I know how important this is for people."
Gobeli said a few guests canceled reservations, but that she was still turning people away, at least 10 between noon and 2 p.m.
"We've never had a storm like this, where we've filled up so fast," Gobeli said. "People just aren't able to get anywhere."
A powerful snowstorm which started Tuesday night dumped up to 18 inches of snow on Monroe, wind blew snow into drifts as high as 6 feet and Thoman's motels were at full capacity.
"I don't ever remember seeing this much snow with the wind," said Thoman, 48, a lifelong Monroe resident.
Thoman said the motels are usually 50 percent full this time of year. She said both motels were full as of 1 p.m. Wednesday. "I was surprised because we usually don't see a rush until near the end of the day."
Thoman said she was allowing people to stay in the motels' lobbies with nothing more than a blanket and a pillow. Super 8 can accommodate 10 people, while 10-15 could fit in AmericInn's lobby and another 10 in the motel's meeting room.
Super 8 supervisor Salena Allen said at least 40 people had come in since she arrived at 6 a.m. looking for a room. Those who arrived early enough got rooms. Allen said she had turned away 15 people in the hour after the motel reached capacity.
"Everybody who has a room has been pretty upbeat," Allen said. "Those who don't are a little stressed out."
Thoman said the only motel staff who made it to work other than Allen was housekeeping. Everyone else was on call.
"We're asking people if we can just give them towels and cleaning may not get done right away," Thoman said. "They understand we're short-staffed, and we end up cleaning. Everyone chips in."
The Gasthaus Motel's 24 rooms were full as of noon Wednesday. Monroe Clinic reserved many of those rooms before Wednesday's rush, to allow staff a place to shower, sleep and get back to work.
"My husband is shuttling people back and forth in his truck," Gasthaus owner Teresa Gobeli said. "I work at Monroe Clinic, too, so I know how important this is for people."
Gobeli said a few guests canceled reservations, but that she was still turning people away, at least 10 between noon and 2 p.m.
"We've never had a storm like this, where we've filled up so fast," Gobeli said. "People just aren't able to get anywhere."