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Winter storm causes havoc up and down the East Coast Winter storm causes havoc up and down the East Coast
(about 1 hour later)
Although the Washington area grabbed much of the attention Saturday, snowstorms brought life to a halt along the rest of the East Coast as well, stranding thousands of drivers in Kentucky, flooding homes in New Jersey, canceling more than 9,500 flights and prompting authorities in New York to ban all vehicles from the roads. While the Washington area grabbed much of the attention Saturday, snowstorms brought life to a halt along the rest of the East Coast as well, flooding streets in New Jersey, stranding thousands of drivers in Kentucky, canceling more than 9,500 flights and prompting authorities in New York to ban all vehicles from the roads.
Governors throughout the region pleaded with residents to stay off roads to avoid slowing down emergency responders. But few put it as forcefully as New York. Officials throughout the region pleaded with residents to stay off roads. But few put it as forcefully as New York.
“Stay off the road,” the New York City Police Department said in a tweet. “We don’t want to have to arrest you.”“Stay off the road,” the New York City Police Department said in a tweet. “We don’t want to have to arrest you.”
The travel ban for downstate New York took effect at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and was expected to last until at least midnight. New York City also halted above-ground subway service and buses Saturday afternoon. The ban on motorists in downstate New York took effect at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and was expected to last until at least midnight. New York City also halted above-ground subway service and buses Saturday afternoon.
During a Saturday morning news conference, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) described the storm as “one of the worst snowstorms in New York City history.” If more than 20 inches were to fall, he said, the storm would rank among the top five dating back to 1869. Saturday’s storms dumped much more snow on New York than most forecasters had expected. During a Saturday morning news conference, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) described it as “one of the worst snowstorms in New York City history.” If more than 20 inches were to fall, he said, the storm would rank among the top five dating back to 1869.
“I know that New Yorkers, we think we’re tough, we think we can handle anything,” New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D). “But the roads are truly, truly dangerous.” “I don’t care how tough we are as New Yorkers,” said New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D). “The roads are really dangerous, and it’s only going to get worse.”
Cuomo, however, emphasized that potential flooding — not the snow itself — was his top concern. Cuomo, however, emphasized that potential flooding — not the snow itself — was his top concern. He said state officials were closely monitoring water levels ahead of high tide Saturday night and Sunday morning.
Officials say the storm, combined with the tidal effects of a full moon, may bring severe coastal flooding in near-record amounts in some parts of the East Coast. Officials say the storm, combined with the tidal effects of a full moon, may bring severe coastal flooding in some parts of the East Coast. Photos shared online on Saturday morning by police departments along New Jersey’s coast showed streets underwater and stretches of small coastal towns already flooded.
A mandatory evacuation was ordered in the town of Barnegat, N.J., because of flooding. Several nearby towns were also placed under voluntary evacuations.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), who returned to the state from the presidential campaign trail Friday, declared a state of emergency.New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), who returned to the state from the presidential campaign trail Friday, declared a state of emergency.
Photos shared online on Saturday morning by police departments along New Jersey’s coast showed streets underwater and stretches of small towns already flooded. “We expect some street flooding, which is fairly typical for storm events on the coast in New Jersey,” Christie said on NBC on Saturday morning. “But at least as of now, we are not expecting any type of major flooding incidents along the coast.”
“We expect some street flooding, which is fairly typical for storm events on the coast in New Jersey,” Christie said on NBC’s “Today” on Saturday morning. “But at least as of now, we are not expecting any type of major flooding incidents along the coast.” States of emergency were declared in at least 10 states: Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, New York, Maryland, and Virginia.
Several states spent the day grappling with power outages, with the Carolinas and New Jersey the hardest hit. As of 11:20 a.m. Saturday, nearly 140,000 customers were without power in North and South Carolina, and nearly 49,000 in New Jersey.Several states spent the day grappling with power outages, with the Carolinas and New Jersey the hardest hit. As of 11:20 a.m. Saturday, nearly 140,000 customers were without power in North and South Carolina, and nearly 49,000 in New Jersey.
Meanwhile, passengers were stranded across the region after airlines canceled more than 8,700 flights scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, according to FlightAware.com. Meanwhile, passengers were stranded across the region after airlines canceled more than 9,500 flights scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, according to FlightAware.com.
But few could top the ordeal of several thousand motorists in Kentucky, however, who became stranded overnight when icy conditions closed a 30-mile stretch of highway for more than 13 hours Friday night and Saturday morning But few could top the ordeal of several thousand motorists in Kentucky, who became stranded overnight when icy conditions closed a 30-mile stretch of highway for more than 13 hours Friday night and Saturday morning
Traffic on Interstate 75 ground to a complete halt, authorities said, after large trucks were unable to get up steep hills and cars started slipping and sliding. But no injuries were reported. Traffic on Interstate 75 ground to a halt, authorities said, after large trucks were unable to get up steep hills and cars started slipping and sliding. But no injuries were reported.
Motorists posted pictures videos throughout the night as their anger and boredom turned to sleep-deprived goofiness. Motorists posted pictures and videos throughout the night as their anger and boredom turned to sleep-deprived goofiness.
An indie band began serenading fellow drivers on the roadway and uploaded an impromptu song about the experience to YouTube, recorded from inside their RV.An indie band began serenading fellow drivers on the roadway and uploaded an impromptu song about the experience to YouTube, recorded from inside their RV.
The Duquesne University men’s basketball team — stranded on its bus after Friday afternoon’s game against George Mason — tweeted a picture of its players pretending to push their bus through the standstill traffic and another picture of their senior forward making snow angels on the road. Similarly stuck on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the Duquesne University men’s basketball team — trying to get home after Friday afternoon’s game against George Mason University — tweeted a picture of its players pretending to push their bus through the standstill traffic and another picture of their senior forward making snow angels on the road.
Kentucky state police went car to car, checking on those stranded with water, fuel and snacks. And by Saturday morning, they had cleared out enough snow ice and abandoned vehicles to reopen the interstate. Back in New York, clever opportunists tried to take advantage of the storm and grab unused tickets to the smash Broadway musical “Hamilton.” They stood on snowdrifts in a line as long as a city block outside the Richard Rodgers Theatre, only to be disappointed when Mayor de Blasio ordered all Broadway theaters shut.
Mark Berman and Sally Jenkins in New York contributed to this report. Along New York’s nearly deserted West Side Highway, a 30-year-old courier named Christopher Bomba pedaled a bike uncertainly across hard-packed snow, somehow balancing a package on his handlebars and staying upright. Bomba, covered in latex snow gear from his eyebrows to his heels, was headed from Midtown to the Financial District, where deliveries were expected no matter what. “This is my second job,” he said. “I’ve got two kids.”
“If I can’t ride the bike, I’ll hand-carry,” he said.
Meanwhile, outside a residential tower on Greenwich Street, parking attendant Benicio Loja pushed a snow shovel at the entrance to an indoor garage, where he expected to be sleeping that night because his shift relief couldn’t make it into the city.
“The other guys can’t get here,” he said. “It’s okay, it’s quiet, and it’s warm.”
Jenkins reported from New York. Mark Berman contributed to this report.