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| Snowzilla is done with us, but now the shoveling begins | Snowzilla is done with us, but now the shoveling begins |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Washington region, battered by one of the biggest snow storms in recent memory, began a monumental dig out Sunday that is likely to continue for days and hobble the area well into the workweek. | The Washington region, battered by one of the biggest snow storms in recent memory, began a monumental dig out Sunday that is likely to continue for days and hobble the area well into the workweek. |
| And, in the first sign of how difficult that digging out may be, Metro said it won’t announce whether it will reopen Monday until sometime this afternoon. The system shut down completely during the storm. | And, in the first sign of how difficult that digging out may be, Metro said it won’t announce whether it will reopen Monday until sometime this afternoon. The system shut down completely during the storm. |
| “We’re still assessing things, but the effects of the storm are likely to be felt for days,” spokesman Dan Stessel said Sunday morning. Whatever rail and bus service is available Monday, if any, “will not be normal,” he said. | “We’re still assessing things, but the effects of the storm are likely to be felt for days,” spokesman Dan Stessel said Sunday morning. Whatever rail and bus service is available Monday, if any, “will not be normal,” he said. |
| But D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) announced that the city’s public schools will be closed Monday. Fairfax County, the region’s largest school system also will be closed. | |
| The morning brought the sight of mountains of plowed snow, and landscapes buried thigh-deep in white. | |
| “Where are we going to put it all?” a Falls Church Hampton Inn manager, Dorene Sapp, said she thought, as she pondered the snow in her parking lot. | |
| It was the question of the day. | |
| The epic nor’easter of 2016 closed its 36-hour reign over the D.C. region Saturday night, moving up the Atlantic coast, hammering other cities in its path, and leaving in its wake a light breeze, cold temperatures and clear skies. | The epic nor’easter of 2016 closed its 36-hour reign over the D.C. region Saturday night, moving up the Atlantic coast, hammering other cities in its path, and leaving in its wake a light breeze, cold temperatures and clear skies. |
| [Live updates as Washington begins to dig out] | [Live updates as Washington begins to dig out] |
| With the return of the sun, thoughts turned to Monday, and the start of the week, when it appeared the storm recovery could extend the region’s shutdown. | With the return of the sun, thoughts turned to Monday, and the start of the week, when it appeared the storm recovery could extend the region’s shutdown. |
| In Maryland, the University of Maryland is closed Monday, as well as public schools in Frederick, Anne Arundel, and Howard counties. | |
| But first comes the big dig, and much hard work. | |
| Washington officials said they will begin “aggressively” ticketing and towing residents who get stuck on public roads. | |
| Such a ticket could cost as much as $750, said D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier. She also warned that residents could face fines for walking in public streets. | |
| “We need to get D.C. back,” Bowser said. “And first of all we need you to keep not only your vehicles off the streets, we need you to keep yourselves off the streets as well.” | |
| The blizzard brought Washington and its suburbs to a standstill, with all but a few major highways made impassable by more than two feet of snow. | The blizzard brought Washington and its suburbs to a standstill, with all but a few major highways made impassable by more than two feet of snow. |
| The winds that spared the region for the storm’s first 24 hours arrived at gale strength Saturday afternoon, pushing snow back onto the few cleared roads and sidewalks and threatening to take down power lines that serve 6 million people. But there were relatively few power outages. Local utilities were reporting only a handful Sunday morning. | The winds that spared the region for the storm’s first 24 hours arrived at gale strength Saturday afternoon, pushing snow back onto the few cleared roads and sidewalks and threatening to take down power lines that serve 6 million people. But there were relatively few power outages. Local utilities were reporting only a handful Sunday morning. |
| The last of the snow fell in the region around 11:45 p.m. Saturday. Snowfall totals ranged from 10 to 35 inches and more, with the heaviest accumulation to the north and west of the city, outside the Capital Beltway. | The last of the snow fell in the region around 11:45 p.m. Saturday. Snowfall totals ranged from 10 to 35 inches and more, with the heaviest accumulation to the north and west of the city, outside the Capital Beltway. |
| [D.C. snowfall totals called into question after improper measurement] | [D.C. snowfall totals called into question after improper measurement] |
| Shepherdstown, W.Va., on the Potomac River just upstream from Harpers Ferry, got 40 inches, the National Weather Service said. | Shepherdstown, W.Va., on the Potomac River just upstream from Harpers Ferry, got 40 inches, the National Weather Service said. |
| As most people sought to be rid of the snow, CBS reported that nurses at the National Institutes of Health, in Bethesda, went out into the storm Saturday and brought back tubs of snow for sick children to play with. | As most people sought to be rid of the snow, CBS reported that nurses at the National Institutes of Health, in Bethesda, went out into the storm Saturday and brought back tubs of snow for sick children to play with. |
| Out on the highways, Interstates 70 in Western Maryland and I-270 were reopening Sunday in stages, according to Charlie Gischlar, a spokesman for the Maryland State Highway Administration. | Out on the highways, Interstates 70 in Western Maryland and I-270 were reopening Sunday in stages, according to Charlie Gischlar, a spokesman for the Maryland State Highway Administration. |
| The highways were closed Saturday night after several tractor trailers got stuck on an incline on northbound I-270 near the Montgomery – Frederick County line. | The highways were closed Saturday night after several tractor trailers got stuck on an incline on northbound I-270 near the Montgomery – Frederick County line. |
| It took crews hours to get to the stuck trucks and tow them in the last heavy bursts of snow from the blizzard. Several cars had been stuck behind the trucks. | It took crews hours to get to the stuck trucks and tow them in the last heavy bursts of snow from the blizzard. Several cars had been stuck behind the trucks. |
| Gischlar said that roads elsewhere in Maryland are good and getting better by the hour. But he still urged that motorists stay off the roads. “There is still a lot of work to be done,” he said. “This is our clean-up day. Even though the roadway may look clear, there is still a lot of work to be done. Every hour will be better.” | Gischlar said that roads elsewhere in Maryland are good and getting better by the hour. But he still urged that motorists stay off the roads. “There is still a lot of work to be done,” he said. “This is our clean-up day. Even though the roadway may look clear, there is still a lot of work to be done. Every hour will be better.” |
| All airlines have canceled flights and operations are still suspended at Reagan National and Dulles International airports, said Kimberly Gibbs, a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. | All airlines have canceled flights and operations are still suspended at Reagan National and Dulles International airports, said Kimberly Gibbs, a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. |
| Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport is expecting widespread cancellations, but some flights may get out later Sunday, spokesman Jonathan Dean said. | Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport is expecting widespread cancellations, but some flights may get out later Sunday, spokesman Jonathan Dean said. |
| For Metro, one issue is clearing snow from transit agency’s 130 miles of outdoor tracks, running in two directions. Stessel said several diesel-powered “prime movers,” or large rail cars, have been plowing snow since the storm began Friday night, but “we’ve still got a lot of work to do.” | For Metro, one issue is clearing snow from transit agency’s 130 miles of outdoor tracks, running in two directions. Stessel said several diesel-powered “prime movers,” or large rail cars, have been plowing snow since the storm began Friday night, but “we’ve still got a lot of work to do.” |
| Hundreds of workers have been removing snow from stations, but some platforms and outdoor escalators remained buried, he said. | Hundreds of workers have been removing snow from stations, but some platforms and outdoor escalators remained buried, he said. |
| Spokesman Stessel said Metro expects to announce its plan for Monday before Mayor Bowser holds a news briefing Sunday at 5. He said Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld will attend that briefing and explain Metro’s status. | |
| Meanwhile, the storm’s death toll increased. | Meanwhile, the storm’s death toll increased. |
| A Leesburg man had a heart attack and died early Sunday morning while trudging through waist-deep snow in an attempt to go home after working at a convenience store that had stayed open through the storm, police said. | A Leesburg man had a heart attack and died early Sunday morning while trudging through waist-deep snow in an attempt to go home after working at a convenience store that had stayed open through the storm, police said. |
| The man, whose identity has not been released but was in his 50s, collapsed around 2 a.m., police said. A resident saw him fall into the snow, called 911 and pulled the man inside a nearby home. Emergency responders were unable to revive him. | The man, whose identity has not been released but was in his 50s, collapsed around 2 a.m., police said. A resident saw him fall into the snow, called 911 and pulled the man inside a nearby home. Emergency responders were unable to revive him. |
| “If the gentleman had been walking home on a sunny day, he probably would be alive,” said Leesburg Police Lt. Brian Rourke, attributing the fatality to the snow. | “If the gentleman had been walking home on a sunny day, he probably would be alive,” said Leesburg Police Lt. Brian Rourke, attributing the fatality to the snow. |
| The man had tried to drive home after his shift at the convenience store, located on the 700 block of Fieldstone Drive Northwest, but abandoned his car after it got stuck, and tried to walk the rest of the way home, Rourke said. | The man had tried to drive home after his shift at the convenience store, located on the 700 block of Fieldstone Drive Northwest, but abandoned his car after it got stuck, and tried to walk the rest of the way home, Rourke said. |
| Virginia authorities have attributed at least four other deaths to storm-related causes, and the storm had claimed at least 19 other fatalities nationwide as of Sunday morning. | Virginia authorities have attributed at least four other deaths to storm-related causes, and the storm had claimed at least 19 other fatalities nationwide as of Sunday morning. |
| Other deaths included traffic fatalities, those from heart attacks while shoveling snow and two hypothermia deaths. One shoveling death was that of a 49-year old man from Abingdon, Md., northeast of Baltimore. | Other deaths included traffic fatalities, those from heart attacks while shoveling snow and two hypothermia deaths. One shoveling death was that of a 49-year old man from Abingdon, Md., northeast of Baltimore. |
| Authorities warned that it would take days before all the roads became passable. With Sunday’s sunny forecast, officials feared that people housebound since Friday would be eager to get out. | Authorities warned that it would take days before all the roads became passable. With Sunday’s sunny forecast, officials feared that people housebound since Friday would be eager to get out. |
| “Please do not go out and get on the road (Sunday) or Monday,” Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) said Saturday afternoon. “We are working primary roads right now, and then beginning next week, we will get into the secondary roads.” | “Please do not go out and get on the road (Sunday) or Monday,” Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) said Saturday afternoon. “We are working primary roads right now, and then beginning next week, we will get into the secondary roads.” |
| [Where Snowzilla fits among D.C.’s top 10 snowstorms] | [Where Snowzilla fits among D.C.’s top 10 snowstorms] |
| “We want our community to heed our recommendations, our concerns, and get off the road,” Bowser said. “But more than that, we cannot afford to divert our emergency services to police a travel ban.” | “We want our community to heed our recommendations, our concerns, and get off the road,” Bowser said. “But more than that, we cannot afford to divert our emergency services to police a travel ban.” |
| Gischlar, the Maryland State Highway Administration spokesman, lambasted SUV owners out on joyrides. “There’s a lot of people in four-wheel drives that are just kind of out cruising around, and they’re getting in the way of snow operations.” | Gischlar, the Maryland State Highway Administration spokesman, lambasted SUV owners out on joyrides. “There’s a lot of people in four-wheel drives that are just kind of out cruising around, and they’re getting in the way of snow operations.” |
| [Sunday’s forecast: Sunny but too cold for much to melt] | [Sunday’s forecast: Sunny but too cold for much to melt] |
| But for those who had to be out George Tasiopolous’ 24-hour Amphora Diner was an oasis. It’s never been shuttered since the eatery opened in Herndon, and a crippling snow storm wasn’t going to be the first time. | But for those who had to be out George Tasiopolous’ 24-hour Amphora Diner was an oasis. It’s never been shuttered since the eatery opened in Herndon, and a crippling snow storm wasn’t going to be the first time. |
| “Eleven years ago we lost power, but we still kept the doors open. We were serving salads and desserts,” Tasiopolous said Sunday. “We never, never close the door.” | “Eleven years ago we lost power, but we still kept the doors open. We were serving salads and desserts,” Tasiopolous said Sunday. “We never, never close the door.” |
| He was operating on a shoe-string staff, with two cooks, two servers and a busser rotating through shifts and sleeping at the hotel across the street. | He was operating on a shoe-string staff, with two cooks, two servers and a busser rotating through shifts and sleeping at the hotel across the street. |
| Police, utility workers, and dozens of others out in the weather sought the solace of Amphora’s pancakes and eggs. | Police, utility workers, and dozens of others out in the weather sought the solace of Amphora’s pancakes and eggs. |
| Snow accumulations in many places around D.C. were historic. | Snow accumulations in many places around D.C. were historic. |
| The National Zoo in Northwest Washington got 22.4 inches, as of Saturday night. | The National Zoo in Northwest Washington got 22.4 inches, as of Saturday night. |
| Hyattsville, in Prince George’s County got 25 inches. Thirty inches fell in Manassas, as of Sunday morning. And Round Hill, in Loudoun County, got three feet. | Hyattsville, in Prince George’s County got 25 inches. Thirty inches fell in Manassas, as of Sunday morning. And Round Hill, in Loudoun County, got three feet. |
| In Manassas, 67 residents were forced to evacuate their apartments early Sunday after a roof partially collapsed on one building and appeared to be faltering on another. | In Manassas, 67 residents were forced to evacuate their apartments early Sunday after a roof partially collapsed on one building and appeared to be faltering on another. |
| Prince William Fire and Rescue crews were called to the Coverstone Apartments in the 10900 block of Coverstone Drive at 12:25 a.m., according to Matt Smolsky, the assistant chief. | Prince William Fire and Rescue crews were called to the Coverstone Apartments in the 10900 block of Coverstone Drive at 12:25 a.m., according to Matt Smolsky, the assistant chief. |
| No one was injured, Smolsky said, but at 3 a.m., workers were still seeking alternative shelter for the residents. He said a buildup of snow on the roofs of the buildings was no doubt a factor in the collapse, if not the cause | No one was injured, Smolsky said, but at 3 a.m., workers were still seeking alternative shelter for the residents. He said a buildup of snow on the roofs of the buildings was no doubt a factor in the collapse, if not the cause |
| The enormousness of the storm will be calculated after it’s all over, when the snowfall totals are collected from the region’s three major airports and other less prestigious sources. | The enormousness of the storm will be calculated after it’s all over, when the snowfall totals are collected from the region’s three major airports and other less prestigious sources. |
| But it certainly will rival the totals from the record for the biggest two-day snowstorm in Washington. That was set Jan. 27-28, 1922, when 26 inches fell. That snowfall collapsed the roof of the Knickerbocker Theatre in Adams Morgan, killing more than 100 people. And this weekend’s snow eclipsed the biggest winter storm of this young century, “Snowmageddon” of Feb. 5-6, 2010, when 17.8 inches fell. | But it certainly will rival the totals from the record for the biggest two-day snowstorm in Washington. That was set Jan. 27-28, 1922, when 26 inches fell. That snowfall collapsed the roof of the Knickerbocker Theatre in Adams Morgan, killing more than 100 people. And this weekend’s snow eclipsed the biggest winter storm of this young century, “Snowmageddon” of Feb. 5-6, 2010, when 17.8 inches fell. |
| [What will be closed on Monday] | [What will be closed on Monday] |
| Around 5 p.m. Saturday, Snowzilla officially met the criteria for a blizzard, with three straight hours of wind gusts at more than 35 mph, visibility of a quarter-mile or less, and snow and blowing snow. | Around 5 p.m. Saturday, Snowzilla officially met the criteria for a blizzard, with three straight hours of wind gusts at more than 35 mph, visibility of a quarter-mile or less, and snow and blowing snow. |
| The magnitude of the storm, with its delivery of three inches of snow per hour, paralyzed the East Coast from Richmond to New York. Roads and public transit shut down in New York and Washington, and low-lying coastal regions from Cape Hatteras, N.C., to Long Island, N.Y., prepared for flooding Sunday and Monday. | The magnitude of the storm, with its delivery of three inches of snow per hour, paralyzed the East Coast from Richmond to New York. Roads and public transit shut down in New York and Washington, and low-lying coastal regions from Cape Hatteras, N.C., to Long Island, N.Y., prepared for flooding Sunday and Monday. |
| The low-pressure system fueling the snowstorm had generated hurricane-force gusts at sea, and the forecast was for waves as tall as a three-story building. | The low-pressure system fueling the snowstorm had generated hurricane-force gusts at sea, and the forecast was for waves as tall as a three-story building. |
| [The power surprisingly stayed on across most of the region] | [The power surprisingly stayed on across most of the region] |
| The U.S. Postal Service gave up on attempts to deliver the mail Saturday in the Washington region and said carriers would try again Monday. The agency asked homeowners to dig out their mailboxes and clear sidewalks. | The U.S. Postal Service gave up on attempts to deliver the mail Saturday in the Washington region and said carriers would try again Monday. The agency asked homeowners to dig out their mailboxes and clear sidewalks. |
| State police in Virginia said they responded to 1,100 accidents statewide, the majority of them in Northern Virginia. | State police in Virginia said they responded to 1,100 accidents statewide, the majority of them in Northern Virginia. |