This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/24/east-coast-blizzard-states-lift-travel-bans-new-york-philadelphia-winter-storm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| East coast blizzard: a sense of relief as states dig out and enter recovery mode | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The city that never sleeps came grinding to a halt. The capital that lives and breathes politics found something else to obsess about. New York and Washington were among major American cities entering recovery mode on Sunday, after 24 hours of white-out blizzard conditions buried them in near-record snow and caused 19 deaths. | The city that never sleeps came grinding to a halt. The capital that lives and breathes politics found something else to obsess about. New York and Washington were among major American cities entering recovery mode on Sunday, after 24 hours of white-out blizzard conditions buried them in near-record snow and caused 19 deaths. |
| Related: Snowstorm on east coast hits the homeless hardest – in pictures | Related: Snowstorm on east coast hits the homeless hardest – in pictures |
| Although the damage was profound, and likely to cost hundreds of millions of dollars to clear up, there was also a sense of relief among many who had stocked up on baked beans, bottled water and candles that “Snowzilla” did not quite reach the scale of past superstorms. Governors around the eastern US lifted emergency travel bans on Sunday morning. | Although the damage was profound, and likely to cost hundreds of millions of dollars to clear up, there was also a sense of relief among many who had stocked up on baked beans, bottled water and candles that “Snowzilla” did not quite reach the scale of past superstorms. Governors around the eastern US lifted emergency travel bans on Sunday morning. |
| But the storm brought tragedy enough. Car accidents, slick roads and strong winds accounted for most of the deaths and injuries. Thirteen people were killed in accidents in Arkansas, North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia and Tennessee. Two died of hypothermia in Virginia, state officials said, and five died while shoveling snow in New York. | But the storm brought tragedy enough. Car accidents, slick roads and strong winds accounted for most of the deaths and injuries. Thirteen people were killed in accidents in Arkansas, North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia and Tennessee. Two died of hypothermia in Virginia, state officials said, and five died while shoveling snow in New York. |
| In all, around 80 million people were affected. Baltimore had its snowiest storm ever, with 29.2in falling, while the heaviest official report was 42in in Glengary, West Virginia. About 150,000 customers in North Carolina and 90,000 homes in New Jersey – where some streets were flooded – lost electricity. | In all, around 80 million people were affected. Baltimore had its snowiest storm ever, with 29.2in falling, while the heaviest official report was 42in in Glengary, West Virginia. About 150,000 customers in North Carolina and 90,000 homes in New Jersey – where some streets were flooded – lost electricity. |
| Famous landmarks were coated in the white stuff. New York’s Manhattan became a ghost town with some adventurous tourists seizing what broadcasters described as “a once in a lifetime opportunity” to walk the streets after roads, bridges and tunnels were closed. The 26.6in of snow that fell in Central Park on Saturday was a one-day record for the city and the National Weather Service (NWS) said the overall accumulation of 26.8in was the second most for a single storm in city history. | Famous landmarks were coated in the white stuff. New York’s Manhattan became a ghost town with some adventurous tourists seizing what broadcasters described as “a once in a lifetime opportunity” to walk the streets after roads, bridges and tunnels were closed. The 26.6in of snow that fell in Central Park on Saturday was a one-day record for the city and the National Weather Service (NWS) said the overall accumulation of 26.8in was the second most for a single storm in city history. |
| Two feet of snow fell in the Washington DC area. President Obama hunkered down at the White House. Rail and bus serves were shut down and there were estimates it could take days for roads to be cleared. Schools would be closed on Monday and the House of Representatives canceled all votes for the coming week. | Two feet of snow fell in the Washington DC area. President Obama hunkered down at the White House. Rail and bus serves were shut down and there were estimates it could take days for roads to be cleared. Schools would be closed on Monday and the House of Representatives canceled all votes for the coming week. |
| At the National Zoo, 22.4in fell, beating the 21in that fell on 28 January 1922. All statistics were quickly eclipsed by a video of one of its four pandas frolicking in the snow. The video went viral. | At the National Zoo, 22.4in fell, beating the 21in that fell on 28 January 1922. All statistics were quickly eclipsed by a video of one of its four pandas frolicking in the snow. The video went viral. |
| “Snowzilla is done with us, but now the shovelling begins,” noted a headline on the Washington Post website, heralding a sunny day under a brilliant blue sky that saw many residents digging out cars or sledging with kids. | “Snowzilla is done with us, but now the shovelling begins,” noted a headline on the Washington Post website, heralding a sunny day under a brilliant blue sky that saw many residents digging out cars or sledging with kids. |
| On Saturday, most New Yorkers heeded official warnings to stay out of 50mph winds that heaped snow in drifts. Sanitation crews cleared and salted roads overnight, and by Sunday morning the city stood eerily quiet save for the occasional plow or police car. Transit officials said they hoped public services would be back to full capacity by the afternoon. | On Saturday, most New Yorkers heeded official warnings to stay out of 50mph winds that heaped snow in drifts. Sanitation crews cleared and salted roads overnight, and by Sunday morning the city stood eerily quiet save for the occasional plow or police car. Transit officials said they hoped public services would be back to full capacity by the afternoon. |
| Early on Sunday, New York governor Andrew Cuomo lifted the ban on road travel and New York city mayor Bill de Blasio slowly restored full subway service. | Early on Sunday, New York governor Andrew Cuomo lifted the ban on road travel and New York city mayor Bill de Blasio slowly restored full subway service. |
| “We survived and then some, I think it’s fair to say,” Cuomo told reporters at a morning press conference. “The travel ban has been lifted. That does not mean people should go out and take a ride and see the sites. | “We survived and then some, I think it’s fair to say,” Cuomo told reporters at a morning press conference. “The travel ban has been lifted. That does not mean people should go out and take a ride and see the sites. |
| He warned of black ice and the physical toll of shoveling heavy snow in freezing temperatures, but also heaped praise on emergency crews and New Yorkers at large. | He warned of black ice and the physical toll of shoveling heavy snow in freezing temperatures, but also heaped praise on emergency crews and New Yorkers at large. |
| “New Yorkers are not accustomed to being constricted, I understand that,” Cuomo said, recalling how people helped each other through streets and cooperated with crews. “Sometimes when things at their worst it brings out the best, and I believe that’s true of New Yorkers.” | “New Yorkers are not accustomed to being constricted, I understand that,” Cuomo said, recalling how people helped each other through streets and cooperated with crews. “Sometimes when things at their worst it brings out the best, and I believe that’s true of New Yorkers.” |
| A transit official said “literally thousands have been working” overnight to clear the roads, and Cuomo rattled off a list of agencies that worked together to break the storm’s grip on the city. | A transit official said “literally thousands have been working” overnight to clear the roads, and Cuomo rattled off a list of agencies that worked together to break the storm’s grip on the city. |
| “So far so good, but we have more work to do,” he said. | “So far so good, but we have more work to do,” he said. |
| Restaurants, shops and Broadway theatres closed on Saturday night, and a Bruce Springsteen concert scheduled for Madison Square Garden on Sunday night was canceled as well. But theatre performances got the green light to resume on Sunday. | Restaurants, shops and Broadway theatres closed on Saturday night, and a Bruce Springsteen concert scheduled for Madison Square Garden on Sunday night was canceled as well. But theatre performances got the green light to resume on Sunday. |
| In Baltimore, officials lifted a travel ban but still urged residents to stay off the roads and said all vehicles on the streets needed all-weather tires. | In Baltimore, officials lifted a travel ban but still urged residents to stay off the roads and said all vehicles on the streets needed all-weather tires. |
| Officials warned that serious dangers remained even as the sky cleared and temperatures rose to a little above freezing. They warned residents that melted snow would likely freeze again to black ice in the late afternoon, and flooding could threaten coastal towns at the evening high tide. | Officials warned that serious dangers remained even as the sky cleared and temperatures rose to a little above freezing. They warned residents that melted snow would likely freeze again to black ice in the late afternoon, and flooding could threaten coastal towns at the evening high tide. |
| Some leaders were more sanguine than others. New Jersey governor Chris Christie, a Republican candidate for president, told CNN that the snowstorm, although intense – with 30in of snow recorded at Newark International Airport – did not compare to the devastation caused in 2012 by Superstorm Sandy, which drove high tides causing flooding in several towns. | Some leaders were more sanguine than others. New Jersey governor Chris Christie, a Republican candidate for president, told CNN that the snowstorm, although intense – with 30in of snow recorded at Newark International Airport – did not compare to the devastation caused in 2012 by Superstorm Sandy, which drove high tides causing flooding in several towns. |
| Christie added that 22,000 people were without power as of 8am local time, mostly in Atlantic and Cape May county. | Christie added that 22,000 people were without power as of 8am local time, mostly in Atlantic and Cape May county. |
| “We only had to shelter 113 people in public shelters last night,” he said. “I want to commend the people of New jersey, they played smart, they played safe yesterday.” | “We only had to shelter 113 people in public shelters last night,” he said. “I want to commend the people of New jersey, they played smart, they played safe yesterday.” |
| Around 20 states, 10 of which declared emergencies, were affected. Some coastal towns were evacuated as high tides carried ice and water on to streets and into buildings. Between North Carolina, New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania, more than 150,000 customers lost electricity. | Around 20 states, 10 of which declared emergencies, were affected. Some coastal towns were evacuated as high tides carried ice and water on to streets and into buildings. Between North Carolina, New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania, more than 150,000 customers lost electricity. |
| In Pennsylvania, Kentucky and West Virginia, hundreds of drivers were stranded for hours, some for the entire day, on highways and interstates. Roofs collapsed on a historic theater in Virginia and a horse barn in Maryland, while seaside towns in New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland grappled with flooding. | In Pennsylvania, Kentucky and West Virginia, hundreds of drivers were stranded for hours, some for the entire day, on highways and interstates. Roofs collapsed on a historic theater in Virginia and a horse barn in Maryland, while seaside towns in New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland grappled with flooding. |
| About 3,500 flights were canceled on Sunday, with more than 600 already canceled for Monday, according to the aviation tracking site FlightAware. More than 7,000 were canceled on Saturday. Cuomo said airports were open again on Sunday and the onus of getting back on schedule was now on airliners. | About 3,500 flights were canceled on Sunday, with more than 600 already canceled for Monday, according to the aviation tracking site FlightAware. More than 7,000 were canceled on Saturday. Cuomo said airports were open again on Sunday and the onus of getting back on schedule was now on airliners. |
| Some braved the stormy conditions and a cold Sunday morning to appreciate the snow. Robert Bella Hernandez, 38, in Washington, told Reuters: “We haven’t made snow angels yet, but we’re looking forward to doing that in front of the White House. We’re just going to walk around, see some snow-covered DC landmarks. | Some braved the stormy conditions and a cold Sunday morning to appreciate the snow. Robert Bella Hernandez, 38, in Washington, told Reuters: “We haven’t made snow angels yet, but we’re looking forward to doing that in front of the White House. We’re just going to walk around, see some snow-covered DC landmarks. |
| “And then when it’s unsafe, maybe go back in for a minute.” | “And then when it’s unsafe, maybe go back in for a minute.” |