By Kate Bartlett
Buffalo is known as The City of Good Neighbors, and the Christmas Blizzard last week again proved this to be true. Several stories have gone viral on social media, including the stranded motorists who took shelter overnight in a Target store, and young men who shoveled tirelessly to help get into a rescue dog facility. Several people took strangers into their homes to protect them from frigid temperatures and quite possibly saved their lives. More amazing stories can be found on Sweet Buffalo on Facebook and The Villager had the pleasure of speaking with a few local heroes. Their stories are shared below.
The Alabama Hotel in Basom, NY had not hosted overnight visitors for decades, until the Christmas blizzard. Joe Bradt, General Manager, closed up the restaurant on Friday morning and attempted to drive home. “I didn’t get more that ¼ mile down the street before I turned around to head back to the restaurant. The visibility was terrible, the winds were brutal; it was futile. As soon as I arrived through the back door, people started knocking on the front door.” Joe welcomed stranded travelers one-by-one and by the end of the day he had 115 new friends, and 2 dogs, staying overnight. Many of the travelers were headed for Canada, and once they closed the Thruway, they exited and continued to drive north. The ‘Alabama Hotel’ sign got the attention of many in search of shelter. Joe decided to help these stranded motorists along with local patrons Brian Kotarski and Craig Alexander who helped immensely over the days. They also posted on Facebook inviting people who needed a warm place to stay. Joe stayed in constant communication with owner Bonnie Woodward throughout the storm, and graciously welcomed the help of the community.
The Alexander Family owns Alabama Holley Farms store across the street and donated food and supplies during the storm to help them take care of the unexpected visitors. Neighbors brought blankets and sleeping bags along with food, diapers, toys, and even Christmas gifts. They prepared makeshift beds with restaurant chairs, warm coffee along with meals. “People slept on chairs, they slept at the bar, they slept next to dozens of people they’d never met before.” More than 100 people were sheltered there for 48 hours between December 23 and Christmas Eve. Everyone pitched in and helped out, bussing tables, helping prepare food and pass coffee, spreading the true spirit of Christmas and good neighbors. “That weather was brutal,” says Joe, “I really think we saved a life or two here.”
Another remarkable story comes from the home of Andrea and Alex Campagna in Clarence, NY. The couple was home alone in their home on Harris Hill Road watching the storm churn from their windows. “The visibility kept getting worse and worse as the morning went on. We went through our freezers to take inventory of what we had because we had a feeling we’d be here a while.” Around 2pm they heard their doorbell ringing urgently and found 2 men at the door asking for shovels and help digging their vehicle out. Alex braved the elements and followed the men back outside to find a shuttle bus stuck in the snowdrifts. “The conditions were so horrible; it was a complete whiteout”, Andrea recalls. “I couldn’t see the bus, even though it was no more than 100 feet away.” Alex told them it was too dangerous, the visibility was terrible, and the windchill frigid. He brought everyone inside and they found themselves with 10 unexpected Korean houseguests. Andrea sprang into action bringing blankets, warm socks and putting on the tea kettle. “They were completely shell shocked, covered in snow and frightened.” The bus was headed from Washington, DC to Ontario, Canada, when it detoured off the Thruway to find its way down Harris Hill Road. “We soon realized they weren’t going anywhere for a while, so we started making beds out of sleeping bags, couches, and inflatable mattresses.”
Many in the group did not speak English well, so a few served as interpreters. “We all kind of stepped into our roles. One woman was dubbed “Korean Mother” as she watched over everyone and organized the meals. Everyone just jumped into action. They started cooking and meal planning. Alex and I actually love Korean food so we happened to have a lot of the spices and sauces they use in cooking.”
The group enjoyed several meals together over the next 2 days, and even had a champagne toast for the honeymooning couple. They gathered around to watch the Bills game on Saturday and introduced the new sport to many who were unfamiliar. “Joseph, the ‘spokesperson’ for the group, was so excited to explain football to everyone. We gave him a souvenir Bills hat to keep and he really got everyone into the game.”
Many in the group had also never seen a deer before, so they were very intrigued by the Campagnas wooded backyard. “They loved watching the wildlife and the deer. We spent a lot of time by the back windows watching with binoculars and explaining the animals.”
On Sunday morning, Christmas day, the group was starting to feel a bit uneasy about how long this might last. “It was a quiet morning, everyone was slowly drinking coffee and you could tell they were a bit worried, when suddenly we heard a loud noise in the distance. As the noise grew louder, we recognized that plows were finally coming down our street. The group started cheering, hugging and crying ‘We’re saved!’ as they began to dig us out.” They left in 3 small groups on Christmas evening and eventually made it to their destination in Niagara Falls, Canada. What started as disaster that could’ve ended in tragedy, ended in friendships and lifelong memories. Andrea and Alex have been in touch with one of the couples, and have been invited to visit them in Seoul Korea. “I shudder to think what could’ve happened,” says Andrea. “I’m just glad they came to us and we were able to help out, and made friendships along the way.”
May these stories be a reminder that during times of tragedy, we can find some light. We all have the opportunity to be a good neighbor, every day, but especially during these long, cold winter months. May be honor those who were lost by promising to do better, to care more, and to lift each other up.
Stories compiled from Facebook site “Sweet Buffalo” along with personal interviews with Andrea Campagna and Joe Bradt at the Alabama Hotel. The Facebook site Buffalo Blizzard helped countless people help each other during and after the storm.