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Off-Roaders Use 4-Wheelers, Skills To Help People Stranded In Snow

A group of volunteers with a passion for off-roading used their skills to help hundreds of drivers in the state during and after the snow.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WFMY) -- Stranded vehicles on the side of the road were a common scene the past few days across the Triad and the rest of North Carolina.

Winter storm Diego left several inches of snow of the Triad and with it dangerous road conditions.

A group of volunteers with a passion for off-roading used their skills to help hundreds of drivers in the state.

Based out of Winston-Salem, OVERT or Off-Road Vehicle Emergency Response Team, came as a response to a similar initiative started in Atlanta where a Jeep group.

Tools boxes filled with rescue gadgets and first aids kits are packed in the over 80 volunteer members' trusty four-wheel drives.

"We're ready, we're prepared," said OVERT Director Dave Peterman during an interview with WFMY News 2.

The difference between this group and your average Good Samaritan with a truck is their unique training... The off-roads...

"There's different parts of us than having big vehicles and getting dirty and muddy," Peterrman said. "We just wanna give back, we have a skill set."

Pair that with American Red Cross and FEMA certifications and you've got a team of individuals prepared for the common situations we encounter in natural disaster like vehicles off roads and turned over.

On average, OVERT gets around 200 calls when disaster strikes, but according to their detailed report, they got 3849 calls during and after Diego.

"And it's still going as we speak ," Peterman said.

With just 80 volunteers active across the state, they work as hard as they can to help as many as they can.

"You get the thankyous and you get feedback from the drivers<" said="" christina="" peterman,="" dave's="">

"At the end of the day when the smoke clear and snow melts, those people still remember," Peterman added.

This is OVERT's sixth year in operation and they plan on doing it as long as they have volunteers.

The group is reachable via Twitter, Facebook and by phone 1-866-683-7899.

Remember, if you are in an emergency situation to call 911.

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